University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world”
On 27 October from 13–18, the University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world” took place at the assembly hall of the university's main building and online to initiate a discussion on topics important for society and the university. The discussion was be based on the new University of Tartu strategic plan approved in June.
The conference focused on three main topics defining the next decade of Estonian higher education and research:
- responsible internationalisation,
- academic succession,
- knowledge transfer.
Keynote speakers were President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President Kersti Kaljulaid and Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas. After each presentation, vice rectors Aune Valk, Tõnu Esko and Mari Moora explained which framework objectives have been agreed upon in the university’s strategic plan for the relevant main topic.
In discussion panels, experts from outside the university helped seek answers to the question of how to achieve these objectives. The moderator is journalist Taavi Eilat.
The conference was held in Estonian and English with simultaneous interpretation. The event was also broadcast online.
Presentations
Conference programme
13:00 Introduction by Rector Toomas Asser
The University of Tartu, as an international university, is open to the world, while also bearing responsibility as Estonia’s national university for the development of the Estonian state and society. How can we ensure that internationalisation creates lasting added value for Estonian research, culture and the economy?
Geopolitical changes are increasingly affecting the state of research and higher education, as well as opportunities for cooperation. How should the University of Tartu position itself in these circumstances to seize opportunities and mitigate risks?
The principles of academic freedom, the interests of funders, and security considerations may not always align. In what ways can the University of Tartu uphold its core values when these interests conflict?
Democracy and academic freedom are under pressure in many parts of the world. How can the University of Tartu help protect these values through international cooperation?
13:15 Responsible internationalisation. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President
13:45 A university for the world. Objectives of the University of Tartu strategic plan. Aune Valk, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs
13:55 A discussion involving
- Kristjan Vassil, Professor of Applied Technology Studies at the University of Tartu
- Elmer Sterken, member of the council of the University of Tartu, Professor of Monetary Economics at the University of Groningen
- Virve-Anneli Vihman, Professor of Psycholinguistics at the University of Tartu
- Heli Aru-Chabilan, Head of the Centre for Educational Programmes at the Estonian Education and Youth Board
14:35 Coffee break
Estonian universities compete with the world’s top institutions for talented students. Why should a master’s graduate choose an academic career at the University of Tartu?
For university graduates, academic careers in Estonia are just one option alongside opportunities in the private sector and foreign universities, and, after getting their doctoral degree, postdoctoral positions abroad. What conditions need to be created to encourage early-career researchers and teaching staff to pursue their academic careers in Estonia, and motivate those who have gone abroad to return, rather than accepting their permanent departure?
Ensuring the new generation of academic staff and motivating the university community is not solely a matter of funding. The internal climate and leadership culture of the university are becoming increasingly important. How can the University of Tartu shape its organisational culture to be a competitive and internationally recognised choice for studies and career?
The availability of future academic staff affects the entire society from healthcare and education to economic competitiveness and overall wellbeing. What role should the state and universities play in making academic careers attractive? And what role is the private sector willing to take in supporting the new generation of academic staff, not just as a beneficiary, but as a responsible partner?
15:10 Academic succession. Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research
15:40 A university for us. Objectives of the University of Tartu strategic plan. Mari Moora, Vice Rector for Research
15:50 A discussion involving
- Sander Pajusalu, Associate Professor of Clinical Genetics and Vice Dean for Development at the University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine
- Dan Bogdanov, Director of the Information Security Research Institute of Cybernetica AS
- Beatrice Marlene Metsaorg, 5th-year medical student at the University of Tartu
- Katrin Kiisler, Head of the Research and Development Policy Department of the Ministry of Education and Research
Knowledge transfer means that a researcher’s work does not end with the publication of a scientific article, but its results are reflected in products and services, in the activities of civic organisations, and in people’s everyday lives. How can we ensure knowledge transfer, and who is responsible for putting research into practice? How can we avoid situations where the researcher’s work is done and public funds have been spent, yet the results are not used in policymaking?
Research is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly specialised, but solving society’s major challenges requires the integration of knowledge across disciplines and the ability to apply solutions in practice. How can we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and an entrepreneurial mindset at the University of Tartu, so that the value created through research finds its best application in both the economy and society at large?
Research funding measures are increasingly nudging universities and the private sector towards closer cooperation. At the same time, an unstable economic environment puts companies in a situation where all their energy goes into survival rather than innovation. How can we enable and support research and development cooperation so that crises do not hinder progress but become a competitive advantage instead? How can knowledge transfer help reduce regional disparities?
There is always a risk of failure in research, but in knowledge transfer, good ideas may also be hindered by legislation, bureaucracy, or lack of trust. What are the biggest risks associated with knowledge transfer, and how can they be mitigated to ensure society does not miss out on valuable knowledge?
16:30 How to transfer research from universities to companies? Kersti Kaljulaid, President
17:00 A university for Estonia. Objectives of the University of Tartu strategic plan. Tõnu Esko, Vice Rector for Development
17:10 A discussion involving
- Hando Sutter, CEO of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation
- Margit Keller, Associate Professor in Social Communication and Dean of the University of Tartu Faculty of Social Sciences
- Mari-Liis Sööt, Strategy Director at the Government Office of Estonia
- Priit Salumaa, CEO of Better Medicine OÜ
17:50 Closing words by Rector Toomas Asser
18:00 End of the conference. An informal discussion will continue at the University of Tartu Art Museum.
Keynote speakers
Toomas Hendrik Ilves was the President of the Republic of Estonia from 2006 to 2016. Since 2020, he has been a member of the supervisory board of the e-Governance Academy. Before Ilves became president, he was a diplomate, journalist and Estonia’s minister of foreign affairs. He has also been ambassador of Estonia to the United States and Canada. In 1990, he was one of the initiators of the Tiigrihüpe project in Estonia. In 2004, Ilves was elected to the European Parliament, where he was vice-president of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In recent years, Ilves has spoken and written about integration, cross-Atlantic relations, e-governance and cybersecurity. He is University of Tartu Visiting Professor of Democracy in Digital Age.
Kristina Kallas has been Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research since 17 April 2023. She is the chair and co-founder of the political party Eesti 200. Kallas has been at the head of the University of Tartu’s Narva College and a member of the governing bodies of the Integration Foundation, the Estonian Refugee Council, and the Institute of Baltic Studies. She has advised the government leaders of Georgia, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan on multilingual education and integration. In previous years, she worked at the Archimedes Foundation and the company Hill and Knowlton. She holds a doctoral degree in Political Science. Kristina Kallas is also the President of the Estonian Handball Association.
Kersti Kaljulaid was the President of the Republic of Estonia from 2016 to 2021. In 2024, she was elected the President of the Estonian Olympic Committee. Before 2016, Kaljulaid was a member of the European Court of Auditors, an adviser to Prime Minister Mart Laar, and held senior positions in the energy, investment banking, and telecommunications sectors. With an educational background in gene technology and economics, Kaljulaid has served as a member of the council of the Estonian Biobank and chaired the council of the University of Tartu from 2012–2016. She is the first Estonian to have been included in Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most powerful women.
