News

European Doctoral Day is held on 13 May to inspire students to pursue doctoral education, increase employers’ awareness of the value of doctoral degrees, and showcase the diverse career opportunities.

Biotech is a gruelling, capital-intensive business, and can take years for scientists to strike gold. But there is hope, in fact, even on a cold April day, Teesalu is unusually chipper and optimistic.

From 2 to 6 November, the Fall Campus of CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, will take place in the Delta academic building of the University of Tartu. Organised in cooperation with CERN scientists, the five-day programme offers students and other science enthusiasts a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the development work at one of the world’s leading scientific organisations and to take part in international research collaboration.

Academic freedom refers to the ability of students, teaching staff, and researchers to express their views freely and ensures the independence of universities. In Estonia, academic freedom remains high, but according to a recent report, it is declining worldwide.

UT staff and students are welcome to apply to participate in the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference 2026, held in Bern, Switzerland, from 22 to 24 October. The central theme of this year’s conference will be context and learning.

In the Faces of ENLIGHT campaign, the alliance of European universities ENLIGHT presents its members who stand out as role models with their professional achievements and personal qualities. In total, six people from each university are selected; three representatives of the University of Tartu have already been introduced. It is now the turn of Ulrich Norbisrath, Visiting Professor in the Chair of Distributed Systems at the Institute of Computer Science.

Diversity Day is celebrated in Estonia and across Europe on 13 May, the second Wednesday in May, and the whole month is marked as Diversity Month. The aim is to value the uniqueness of every individual and emphasise the importance of an inclusive, respectful and fair working environment.

This episode of Tiksu to UniTartu shares tips for making friends in Estonia: join hobbies, attend student and cultural events, learn a few Estonian phrases, talk to classmates, and keep on showing up.

On 15 May, from 10:15 to 11:45, he gives a public lecture “Applying for ERC grants. The future of European research” in the building of the Institute of Cultural Research (Ülikooli 16–216).

On 29 April, the international Denim Day was marked to draw attention to the prevention of sexual violence and the message that no choice of clothing ever constitutes consent – responsibility lies solely with the perpetrator. The action also aimed to raise awareness of the study currently being conducted at the university, focusing on experiences and attitudes related to harassment, bullying and discrimination.

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 Estonian state’s decision to allocate €12.6 million to launch the DeepTech Startup Network is a pioneering step. This is not merely another support measure, but a strategic investment in a new engine of Estonia’s economy – research‑empowered entrepreneurship.

On 18–19 March, the University of Tartu’s alumni relations team participated in the CASE Nordic Summit on alumni engagement and fundraising at Nordic and European universities. The international event showcases best practices in alumni involvement, community development and the cultivation of a culture of giving.

The Academy of Europe, Academia Europaea, has elected the University of Tartu Professor in Community Ecology and Vice Rector for Research, Mari Moora, and Professor of Bioinformatics at the Institute of Computer Science, Jaak Vilo, as new members.

Mateusz Micuda is studying economics and business at the University of Tartu on an Erasmus exchange programme. Being in Estonia has given Mateusz the opportunity to learn about local culture and experience life in the region alongside his studies.

On 29 April, Denim Day will be marked in Estonia for the first time to express support for survivors of sexual violence and to emphasise that no choice of clothing ever constitutes consent. Everyone is invited to wear jeans on this day as a sign of solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.

This spring, the University of Tartu opens 192 doctoral positions. Everyone who wants to gain new knowledge and pursue a career as a researcher, top specialist, or manager is welcome to apply.

Veikko Linko is an Associate Professor of Molecular Nanotechnology at the University of Tartu. Veikko’s role in Tartu has enabled him to build a research group to examine DNA-based nanostructures and collaborate with partners from across Europe.

Anna Beitane is Head of Digital Projects at the University of Tartu’s Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. First introduced to online learning during her master’s degree, Anna has gone on to develop courses taken by thousands of students worldwide.

One of the biggest and, until recently, more hidden problems of the European academic world has finally taken clearer shape. In 2022, the consortium of universities and research institutions UniSAFE conducted a large-scale study on gender-based violence and its consequences in European academia. Over 42,000 staff members and students from higher education institutions across 15 European countries participated in the study.