ENLIGHT Staff Exchange Week

The Many Faces of Values Development – From University to Society

The University of Tartu Centre for Ethics offers an opportunity to explore the diverse possibilities for values development in education, research, and society. The four-day staff week programme focuses on different aspects of values development each day, engaging participants with the Centre’s experience in implementing values development across various levels of society. The programme includes the exchange of best practices and an introduction to methodological tools that inspire value-based discussions with different societal actors. In addition to the main programme, we offer a cultural programme and the chance to become acquainted with the University of Tartu and the university city.

The staff week has been organised in the framework of the ENLIGHT project. ENLIGHT is an alliance uniting 10 European universities aiming to connect our students and staff. With ENLIGHT, we want to create an "open space" where students move freely and both academic and administrative staff meet each other to share experience and learn from each other.

Host: Centre for Ethics, University of Tartu

Dates: 27 April to 30 April 2026

Main location: Tartu, Estonia

Secondary location: Susimetsa residence, Estonia

Target group: Support staff working with external partners (public, private, and third sector), as well as academic staff interested in research impact and community engagement

Programme

Monday, 27 April 2026 – Society

Location: Philosophicum, Jakobi 2, Room 336

11:00 Welcome and introductions
Professor of Cell Biology Toivo Maimets, Head of Council of the Centre for Ethics
Professor of Practical Philosophy Margit Sutrop, founder and the Head of Centre for Ethics

11:30 Overview: Centre for Ethics, University of Tartu – 25 Years of Interdisciplinary Work
Professor Margit Sutrop, founder and the and the Head of Centre for Ethics

12:30 Lunch and coffee (Room 335)

13:30 Dialogic Communication and Civil Society: Working With Communities and Understanding Modern Value Frameworks
Halliki Harro-Loit, Professor of Journalism

14:15 Tartu World University: community academies in South Estonia
Triinu Laan, Project Manager

How the organisers of community academies in South Estonia define communities
Karoliina Kalda, University of Tartu Museum Project Manager

16:30 Wrap-up

18:00 Welcome dinner at the University Café (Ülikooli 20).
Dinner and a session of the discussion game A Hundred Choices: A Discussion Game About Ethics

Tuesday, 28 April 2026 – Education

Location: The Main Building, Ülikooli 18, Room 140 (first session), Raadi Kindergarten Ripsik, Estonian National Museum, Pallas University of Applied Sciences (transport will be organised).

10:00 Morning Circle – a story from the book „What Is Precious to You?“
Read by the author Tiia Kõnnussaar

10:30 Introduction to the concept and content of the Values Programme (including models, self-analysis tools, and the recognition programme) and experience with values development

12:00 Lunch at Raadi Kindergarten Ripsik (Mõisatamme 30, a short drive by Bolt, pick-up from Jakobi 2)

13:00 Visit to Raadi Kindergarten Ripsik – a recipient of recognition in our programme

15:00 Codes, Practices, and Values: How Organisations Engage With Us and How We Support Them
Dr Mari-Liisa Parder, Research Fellow in Ethics

15:45 Afternoon energy break

16:15 Dialogue Lab. Exploring Communication Ethics Through Play (Diacomet Project).

Walk/drive to Pallas University of Applied Sciences (Tähe 38b)

17:30 Hands-on sustainability workshop (Pallas) and time to decompress

20:00 Dinner at Metsik Pizza (at one’s own expense)

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 – Research

Location: University of Tartu Museum, Lossi 25, Study Lab

10:00 Guiding Responsible Research: Lessons From Counselling and Research Practice
Kadri Simm, Professor of Practical Philosophy, Research Integrity Counsellor

11:00 Insights into research ethics and integrity
Dr Mari-Liisa Parder, Research Fellow in Ethics

12:00 Departure from Tartu

13:00 Lunch in Viljandi at Aida Café

15:00 Arrival at Prof. Dr Theda Rehbock’s Susimetsa Philosophicum
The concept of the NGO and its philosophical roots
Building international cooperations and partnerships
Led by Margit Sutrop

17:00 Ethics and Artificial Intellegence. Future Perspectives
Dicussion led by Margit Sutrop

19:00 Dinner

21:00 Bus back to Tartu, transfer to city centre (contact the organisers if you have accommodation further from the centre)

Thursday, 30 April 2026 – Commercialisation Pathways in the Humanities and Beyond

Location: Delta Building, Narva mnt 18

10:00 University of Tartu’s unique system of innovation scouts and how interdisciplinary units can benefit from it
Eveli Kuuse, Facutly of Arts and Humanities Innovation Scout

12:00 Lunch at Delta Café

13:00 Bringing the Values Game to Market: From Concept to Practical Use (case of Medics' Values Game)
Triin Paaver, Administrative Manager of the Centre for Ethics

14:00 Reflections and certificates at the Botanical Garden (38 Lai Street)

Walpurgis (Volbri) Night festivities – the mayor hands over power in the Town Hall Square.