News
New rector of the University of Latvia visited the University of Tartu
On 6 May, the Rector’s Office met with the rector and representatives of the University of Latvia, who also visited Delta Centre and the Estonian Biobank.
University’s staff and students logged more than 101 million steps in the challenge Spring Steps 2025
As many as 248 students and 231 staff members signed up for the step challenge that took place from 1 to 30 April.
Help choose the best Estonian-speaking AI
Estonian researchers have created the AI Barometer where users can compare the responses of language models and assess their proficiency in Estonian. Everyone is welcome to try out the barometer at baromeeter.ai. The researchers aim to collect at least 50,000 comparisons by the end of June.
Participate in two-day healthcare innovation event Health Founders Estonia Startup Bootcamp
On 16–17 May, the first Startup Bootcamp of the health technology accelerator Health Founders Estonia (HFE) will take place in Tartu, aimed at promoting healthcare innovation. Researchers, healthcare professionals, startup entrepreneurs, IT specialists, and all others with an idea for healthcare innovation are welcome to participate. Registration is open until 7 May.
Limited places available for UniTartu Summer School – Apply by 20 May
The University of Tartu Summer School 2025 will take place from 28 July to 8 August, offering 10 interdisciplinary courses across a variety of fields.
Professor of Language Awareness and Estonian Language Teaching Ilona Tragel gives inaugural lecture about how to notice, study and teach the Estonian language
On Wednesday, 7 May at 16:15, Ilona Tragel gives her inaugural lecture entitled “Your, mine, our Estonian language. How to notice, study and teach it?”. The lecture is in Estonian.
Ukrainian philosopher and public intellectual Volodymyr Yermolenko to explore humanity in times of war
On 28 May, from 16:15 to 17:45, renowned Ukrainian philosopher, writer, journalist, and Associate Professor in Philosophy, Volodymyr Yermolenko will deliver a public lecture at the University of Tartu (Ülikooli 18–128) exploring how the experience of war challenges and transforms our grasp of fundamental human conditions. The event will also feature a commentary by Associate Professor of Political Philosophy Siobhan Kattago, followed by an open Q&A session.
Writer Viivi Luik is University of Tartu’s next Professor of Liberal Arts
Next academic year, the professorship of liberal arts will be held by poet, children’s author and prosaist Viivi Luik.
IN MEMORIAM. Jürgen von Ungern-Sternberg
IN MEMORIAM. Jürgen von Ungern-Sternberg
Institutional Call for ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Award 2025
Teaching staff of the University of Tartu are encouraged to nominate their course for the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Award 2025, which will be presented at the annual Teaching and Learning Conference held in Uppsala, Sweden, from 8 to 10 October. The central theme of this year’s conference will be Playfulness for the Future of Higher Education.
Night Library invites students to study and relax wisely
Students will have an opportunity to study until midnight.
University of Tartu is seeking a uniform building signage solution
The University of Tartu has announced a design competition to find a solution for building signage in university buildings across Estonia. Designs are expected by 2 June 2025.
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves' public lectures in May
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Visiting Professor of Democracy in the Digital Age at the
University of Tartu, will deliver two public lectures in May.
Solaride’s third solar car made its debut
On 25 April, the solar car Solaride III Enefit was presented in the underground car park of the University of Tartu Delta academic building.
Library’s newly refurbished dining room opens on 12 May
The dining room is now a cosy area to take a quick lunch.
Estonian universities and Estonian Research Council call to act on injustice
All Estonian public universities will celebrate Diversity Week from 5–11 May for the second year. This year’s focus is on encouraging people to notice and to act.
Luca Alfieri will defend his doctoral thesis „Forecasting Business Cycles and Financial Crises with Machine Learning“
On 19 May at 14:00 Luca Alfieri will defend his doctoral thesis „Forecasting business cycles and financial crises with machine learning“
Tartu Student Days Spring Festival features more than one hundred diverse events
Most of the events taking place during the Tartu Student Days Spring Festival from 25 April to 3 May are organised by student organisations from Tartu’s higher education institutions.
University of Tartu law students made history at reputable Willem C. Vis moot competition
Representative team of the University of Tartu School of Law made it to the top 32 in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
Three rectors’ scholarship came to the University of Tartu for the third year in a row
The winner of the three rectors’ scholarship competition, which was held for the eighth time this year, is Arnita Agrita Umalas, who was born and raised in Latvia but is studying Estonian language and linguistics at the University of Tartu, focusing on the Livonian language in her master’s thesis.
