This year’s recipients of honorary decorations have been announced
On 25 October, the University of Tartu senate decided to award the University of Tartu Grand Medal to Professor of International Business Urmas Varblane. Also, the recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” have been announced.
The University of Tartu Grand Medal is the highest award granted to university members for services of particular value. According to the senate’s resolution, this year’s Grand Medal was awarded to Urmas Varblane, Professor of International Business, member of the University of Tartu council and member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Professor Varblane is an outstanding economist whose contribution extends beyond the conventional scope of academic work. He has served as a bridge between universities and entrepreneurship, making a direct impact on both public policy-making and corporate strategies.
Urmas Varblane focuses in his research on the role of foreign investment in economic restructuring, the development of national innovation systems and policies, globalisation, and the internationalisation of enterprises. Worth a special mention is his contribution to establishing and developing the Asia Centre at the University of Tartu, which has helped strengthen cooperation and economic ties between Estonia and Asian countries.
The university also announced university members who were granted the University of Tartu Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu”, and people outside the university who were recognised with the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation for rendering great services to the university.
The University of Tartu Star of Appreciation is granted to Aveli Asber, artistic director of the University of Tartu Folk Dance Ensemble; Jaanus Kann, Director of the Southern Department of Estonian Internal Security Service; Tiiu Kirsipuu, sculptor and the University of Tartu’s partner in public space design; Kulno Kungla, Manager of Tartu Student Club; Rainer Saks, security expert and university’s adviser on cybersecurity; Ingrid Tersman, Ambassador of Sweden to Estonia until 2024; Ahto Truu, leader of the Olympiad movement, and Ants Veetõusme, President of the Estonian Academic Sports Federation 2005–2024 and Secretary General 2001–2005.
See the list of all recipients of the honorary decorations below.
Rector Toomas Asser will present the university’s honorary decorations at a ceremony on 21 November at 16:00 in the University of Tartu assembly hall.
All university members may nominate candidates for the honorary decorations of the University of Tartu. The names of this year’s and earlier recipients of honorary decorations have been entered in the awards and recognition database on the university’s website. Read more about honorary decorations on the university’s website.
Recipients of University of Tartu honorary decorations in 2024
University of Tartu Grand Medal
Urmas Varblane, Professor of International Business, member of the University of Tartu council and member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
University of Tartu Star of Appreciation
Aveli Asber, Artistic director of the University of Tartu Folk Dance Ensemble
Jaanus Kann, Director of Southern Department of the Estonian Internal Security Service
Tiiu Kirsipuu, Sculptor, University of Tartu’s partner in public space design
Kulno Kungla, Manager of Tartu Student Club
Rainer Saks, Security expert, university’s adviser on cybersecurity
Ingrid Tersman, Ambassador of Sweden to Estonia until 2024
Ahto Truu, Leader of the Olympiad movement
Ants Veetõusme, President of the Estonian Academic Sports Federation 2005–2024 and Secretary General 2001–2005
University of Tartu Medal
Krista Jaakson, Associate Professor of Management, School of Economics and Business Administration
Anne Kull, Professor of Systematic Theology, School of Theology and Religious Studies
Merike Kull , Associate Professor in Health Education, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
Sulev Kuuse, Vivarium Manager, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
Maria-Kristiina Lotman, Associate Professor of Classical Philology, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Klaarika Marton, Head of Dean’s Office, Head of Development, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Ingrid Mesila, Assistant in Pathological Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
Sander Pajusalu, Associate Professor of Clinical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Margus Pedaste, Professor of Educational Innovation, Head of Institute, Institute of Education
Kaido Tammeveski, Professor in Colloidal and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry
Kristiina Tõnnisson, Lecturer in Public Management, Head of Institute, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
Harri Valdmann, Associate Professor in Vertebrate Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
University of Tartu Badge of Distinction
Anne Aidla, Lecturer in Management, School of Economics and Business Administration
Sven Aller, Junior Lecturer in Informatics, Institute of Computer Science
Jaan Aru, Associate Professor in Computational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Computer Science
Emanuele Bardone, Associate Professor of Educational Technology, Institute of Education
Ester Bardone, Lecturer in Ethnology, Institute of Cultural Research
Marje Burenkov, Librarian, Library
Alexander Stewart Davies, Associate Professor of Philosophy Language, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
Piret Ehrenpreis, Research Communication Adviser, Marketing and Communication Office
Anna Golubeva, Head of Centre of the Centre of Multilingual Education, Narva College
Siim Kanep, Records Manager, Viljandi Culture Academy
Kairi Kasearu, Professor of Empirical Sociology, Institute of Social Studies
Karl Joonas Kendla, Graduate of master’s curriculum in Law in 2024
Aigi Kikkas, Junior Lecturer in Didactics of Natural Science, Institute of Education
Mait Kõiv, Associate Professor of General History (Ancient History), Institute of History and Archaeology
Lii Lang, Senior Specialist for Doctoral Studies and Projects, Dean’s Office of Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Esa Matti Juhani Läärä, Visiting Professor, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics and Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health
Mart Maasik, Head of Entrepreneurship until 2023, Head of UniTartu Ventures OÜ until 2024
Mari-Liis Madisson, Curator, Museum
Mari-Liis Madisson, Research Fellow in Semiotics, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
Kadri Medijainen, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
Luule Medijainen, Assistant in Sport Biomedicine and Nutrition Science, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
Fredrik Payman Milani, Associate Professor of Information Systems, Institute of Computer Science
Berit Niin, National Funds Coordinator, Grant Office
Kerli Orav-Puurand, Lecturer in Mathematics Education, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics
Tõnis Org, Associate Professor of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; Associate Professor of Bioinformatics and Medical Genomics, Institute of Genomics
Ivika Pall, Subject Librarian, Library
Mari-Liisa Parder, Research Fellow in Ethics, Research Projects Coordinator, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
Kai Part, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Riinu Rannap, Associate Professor in Wetland Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
Tiit Remm, Research Fellow in Semiotics, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
Rasmus Rohtla, Junior Research Fellow in Chemical Education, Institute of Chemistry
Heleen Saarse-Külaots, Junior Research Fellow in Mathematics, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics
Petrik Saks, Graduate of master’s curriculum “Change Management in Society” in 2024
Holar Sepp, Specialist, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
Steven Smit, Head of the Biobank Lab, Institute of Genomics
Alar Suija, Studio Manager, Institute of Social Studies
Piret Zettur, Head of Department of Information Systems, Library
Eda Tamm, Assistant of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Ilze Tālberga, Lecturer in Latvian and Estonian Language, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Robert Tiismus, Senior Specialist for Information Technology, Information Technology Office
Kai Truusalu, Lecturer in Medical Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
Arvo Tõnisoo, Engineer, Institute of Physics
Ülle Türk, Teacher of English Language and Culture, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Tiit Vaasna, Assistant in General Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Priit Vahter, Professor of Applied Economics, School of Economics and Business Administration
Karoliina Vilimaa-Pennarun, Senior Specialist for International Cooperation, International Cooperation and Protocol Office
Maili Vilson, Deputy Head for Academic Affairs, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
Viivika Voodla, Academic Affairs Specialist, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Vahur Üprus, Senior Specialist for Information Technology, Information Technology Office
Decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu”
Leili Ader, Estates Office
Marje Burenkov, Library
Jaan Ginter, School of Law
Katrin Lendok, Institute of Social Studies
Anu Saag, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
Ilmar Vene, Library
Mare Vähi, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics