1 December 2021 marked 102 years from the opening of the Estonian-language University of Tartu. Although the traditional events of the anniversary of Estonia's national university were cancelled due to the spread of coronavirus, Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser announced the recipient of the award "Contribution to Estonian National Identity", 102 birthday candles were lit in front of the university's main building, and the Arch Bridge in Tartu turned blue in the honour of the university.
On 1 December, Rector of the University of Tartu Professor Toomas Asser announced the laureate of the Contribution to Estonian National Identity award, composer Erkki-Sven Tüür.
“It is a great honour for the university to hand over the Contribution to Estonian National Identity award to composer Erkki-Sven Tüür, whose influential work touches the hearts of Estonian audiences and has gained wide resonance among the music public of the world. Erkki-Sven Tüür has made Estonia larger than its geographical borders, connecting the Estonian culture with modern world culture,” said Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser when presenting the award. He added that the impact and the idea of Tüür’s activities are well aligned with the function of the national university – to be a link between their home country and the outside world as an Estonian-language international university.
At its session of 29 May 2021, the University of Tartu Senate appointed four honorary doctorates:
From 2 December 2020 to 22 November 2021, 106 doctoral theses were defended at the university. The conferment ceremony will take place in May 2022. See the list of people who defended their doctoral degree during the past year.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty of Science and Technology