Topic: governance

At its meeting on 9 June, the council of the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy unanimously re-elected Professor of Human Movement and Exercise Biology Jarek Mäestu as the head of the institute for a second term.

On 13 May, the Ministry of Education and Research and the University of Tartu concluded an administrative contract for 2026–2028. It sets out the objectives of increasing student admissions in fields with higher labour demand, expanding the volume of doctoral research related to artificial intelligence, and supporting internationalisation and talent policy.

A new comprehensive study on Estonian leadership, commissioned by Enterprise Estonia and conducted by the University of Tartu and LevelLab OÜ, reveals that Estonian companies are embracing a more inclusive and human-centric management style, while also adapting rapidly to technological and global changes.

The former head, Kristiina Tõnnisson, has taken up the position of chair of the management board of the Estonian Research Council, and the institute is now led by former deputy head Maili Vilson.

At its public meeting on Friday, 20 February, the council of Tartu Observatory unanimously elected Antti Tamm to continue his duties as director of the institute.

On 19 December, the UT senate elected Kristel Uiboupin as the director of the university’s Youth Academy. She will begin her five-year term of office as the director on 1 April 2026.

At the meeting on 8 December, the council of the University of Tartu Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences re-elected Professor in Molecular Ecology Maarja Öpik as director of the institute.

At its meeting on 2 December, the council of the University of Tartu Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics elected Associate Professor of General Linguistics Ann Veismann as the new head of the institute.

On 28 November, the council of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Tartu elected Jaak Vilo as the next head of the institute. His term begins on 1 January 2026.