News

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.

On 16 April, ambassadors of five member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) visited the University of Tartu, where they met members of the university management and toured the Institute of Genomics. The discussions focused on opportunities for research cooperation and academic mobility.

From 20 April, all University of Tartu staff and students will receive an email invitation to participate in a study that aims to provide an overview of attitudes, knowledge and experiences related to sexual harassment, workplace bullying and discrimination at the university.

The University of Tartu Spring Run, held on 15 April, featured a more varied programme and brought more than 1,000 sports enthusiasts to the banks of the river Emajõgi.

Jaak Vilo, Vice President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science, has been elected a member of Academia Europaea, the Academy of Europe.

The University of Tartu museums, with their rich collections, offer discovery and excitement for visitors of all ages. During the spring holidays, you are welcome to visit the university’s museum, art museum, botanical garden, natural history museum and the library. Read and find out which exciting exhibitions and events are taking place in Tartu during the holiday week.

Almost 46,800 learners took part in the University of Tartu’s continuing education programmes last year, which is 5% more than in the previous year. For several years now, participants have increasingly preferred longer, more comprehensive courses.

The recipient of the Young Scientist Award of the Culture Fund of the President of the Republic is Anni Allikalt, the Young IT Scientist Award was granted to Marharyta Domnich, and the Young Environmental Scientist Award went to Jeffrey Carbillet.

The call for applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships is open until 9 September 2026. In April and May, the Estonian Research Council (ETAG) will host info sessions to help prospective applicants prepare their applications.

From 24 April, Eveliis Padar will start work at the university as an equality officer to support university members in cases of unequal treatment and to help handle them in a fair and professional manner.

Together with international colleagues, Laura Lõo, Junior Research Fellow of Public Health at the University of Tartu, has developed new models that help identify disease risk even before symptoms appear.

On 25–26 March, the cyber defence exercise “Locked Shields 2026 Partners’ Run” took place, where a joint team of the University of Tartu and the Estonian Defence League’s Cyber Defence Unit achieved first place for the second consecutive year.