News

On 9 March, an international workshop entitled „Animal Ethics at the Boundaries of the Human: Moral Status and Normative Authority“ will take place at the University of Tartu (Jakobi 2–336, Tartu). The workshop will focus on current issues in animal ethics and will be conducted in English.

On Friday, 13 February at 14:15, an English-language colloquium will take place at the University of Tartu Philosophicum (Jakobi 2–336) and on Zoom, where Beer Pieterjan Prakken from the University of Groningen will explore dark play in far-right politics and defend fair play as a political virtue. The colloquium will be moderated by Ove Averin, Junior Research Fellow in Philosophy, Bachelor’s Programme Director.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) results were published recently, in which the field of humanities and arts is once again the highest among university fields and the entire Baltic countries.

Communication seems simple… until you realise you’re talking to a wall. We invite you to a conference where we ask when dialogue is actually needed in society and which shared agreements form the basis of good dialogue.

On Friday, 30 January, at 14:15, an English-language colloquium will take place at the University of Tartu Philosophicum (Jakobi 2–336), exploring how Stoic ideas and practices can be applied in contemporary psychotherapy to help people cope more effectively with difficulties.

The role of the critical friend is discussed by Kristina Mägi, Director of Kohila Kindergarten Sipsik since 2006, and Kätlin Kaljas, Director of Põlva Lõunakaare Kindergarten since 2019. Their experience shows that initial caution is soon replaced by understanding: the critical friend does not come to impose change, but rather to help create clarity and support existing work.

We wish our university community and friends a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

With the annual awards, the university aims to recognise its employees’ and students’ outstanding achievements in teaching, doing research and serving society.

As possible ways forward, participants proposed strengthening digital and health literacy, providing institutional support for professionals, and raising awareness among both healthcare workers and patients.

On 21 November, Rector Toomas Asser handed over the university’s this year’s 123 honorary decorations. This marked the beginning of the traditional events of the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university.

On November 24, the early-career researchers' workshop, "Ethics and Emotions", will take place in Jakobi 2-114. The workshop brings together Susimetsa Philosopicum’s visiting scholars from the University of Geneva and the University of Lund, as well as local researchers from the University of Tartu. Everyone interested, including students, is most welcome!

On Friday, 7 November at 2:15 p.m., an English-language colloquium will take place at the University of Tartu’s Philosophicum (Jakobi 2–114/115) and on Zoom, focusing on the impact of adult-centred attitudes on children and their role in limiting children’s autonomy.

On 31 October, the senate of the University of Tartu decided to award the University of Tartu Grand Medal to former rector, Professor emeritus Jaak Aaviksoo, Professor Marlon Gerardo Dumas Menjivar, Professor Kalle Kirsimäe, and Professor Ivo Leito. The recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” have also been selected.

From October 1–3, 2025, the University of Tartu Ethics Centre hosted an international research integrity seminar organized by the Alliance4Life_BRIDGE project, bringing together research ethics specialists from 11 Central and Eastern European countries.

The University of Tartu was founded on 25 October 393 years ago. This year, the anniversary was marked by memorial ceremonies, a concert and other events.

On 27 October from 13–18, the University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world” took place at the assembly hall of the university's main building and online to initiate a discussion on topics important for society and the university. The discussion were be based on the new University of Tartu strategic plan approved in June.

1 December marks 106 years from the opening of the Estonian-language University of Tartu. Traditional anniversary events are held on that occasion.

On 16 June, the council of the University of Tartu approved the new strategic plan, which sets the direction for the university’s activities for the next ten years.

On 25–26 August, the workshop on the ethics of artificial intelligence, "Ethics of AI: Navigating Challenges to Values, Society, and Human Welfare," was held at the University of Tartu.

On Thursday, 5 June, a new board for the University of Tartu Student Union (UTSU) was elected during a meeting of the student parliament.