Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser is the new President of Universities Estonia

On Thursday, 25 August, Professor Mart Kalm, Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts, handed over the leadership of the representative organisation of Estonian public universities to Professor Toomas Asser, Rector of the University of Tartu.

The office was handed over at a joint session of Universities Estonia and the councils of universities, where the future of universities and higher education was discussed. “During the past year, we have been actively working with the rectors of all public universities to raise awareness of the severe crisis in higher education funding, both at the societal and national level. The role of Universities Estonia in this policy-making process has been truly invaluable, and the cooperation with all the rectors has been exceptionally cohesive,” said Toomas Asser. “There is no doubt we will continue active work to reach a social agreement on the sustainable financing of higher education, but Universities Estonia has many other tasks to ensure a high level of university education and research in Estonia.”

The non-profit organisation Universities Estonia was founded in 2000 by the University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Estonian Academy of Arts. Its mission is to contribute to the advancement of education, research and culture in Estonia by representing its members and forming opinions on issues of common interest. Members of the Board of Universities Estonia are Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts Mart Kalm, Rector of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Ivari Ilja, Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser, Rector of Tallinn University Tõnu Viik, Rector of Tallinn University of Technology Tiit Land and Rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Mait Klaassen. Mart Kalm was the President of Universities Estonia since 1 September 2020.