News

The updated Estonian Code of Ethics for Teachers aims to support teachers’ professional development, reflection on ethical choices, and the maintenance of a shared values-based culture in education.

One of the world’s leading international conferences dedicated to research integrity and trust in science — the World Conference on Research Integrity (WCRI) — will take place in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2028. The successful bid was led by the Centre for Ethics at the University of Tartu, in cooperation with the professional conference organiser Publicon OÜ.

At the end of April, the Centre for Ethics of the University of Tartu organised an international staff training week for employees of universities within the Enlight network. The programme focused on the development of values in education, research, and society.

On Friday, 27 March at 14:15, an English-language colloquium will take place at the University of Tartu Philosophicum (Jakobi 2–336), addressing common features of the migration experience and discussing their ethical and societal implications.

The conference "Less Noise, More Dialogue! Agreements for Good Communication“, organised by the University of Tartu Centre for Ethics, the Institute of Social Studies and the think tank Praxis, brought together different stakeholders who influence public communication, including researchers, journalists, representatives of various organisations, members of civil society, schools and kindergartens.

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.

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.

The University of Tartu Centre for Ethics offers an opportunity to explore the diverse possibilities for values development in education, research, and society.

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 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.

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

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.

The children's book on values and philosophy „Mis on sulle kallis?“ („What do you hold dear?“), by Tiia Kõnnussaar (writing under the pen name Tia Navi) and Kadri Simm, has been selected as one of the 25 gems of Estonian children's literature featured in Estonia’s catalogue at the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

Now, the internal reporting channel of the University of Tartu in FaceUp can be used to send breach reports confidentially and, if requested, anonymously. It is no longer possible to report by email.