Enlight staff training week highlighted the journey of values development from university to society

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.

The week began with an introductory round, which quickly revealed a shared motivation for coming to Tartu: most participants wanted to better understand how values-based games work and how they can be used to address complex issues related to values and value conflicts. Participants were looking for ways to build agreements within organisations and to navigate disagreements. Similar challenges are faced across universities, where values often remain abstract while disagreements become increasingly visible; there was a clear need to reflect on these questions together.

Over four days, the programme moved deliberately from ideas to practice, offering participants both new perspectives and concrete tools for understanding and applying values. The Centre for Ethics of the University of Tartu has developed a unique body of experience in this field over 25 years. This is reflected in its systematic approach to values of development, where theory and practice go hand in hand — from conceptual reflection to concrete methods and tools that support their application in everyday work.

„Values are not something abstract; they shape our everyday decisions and actions in education, research, and society. It is therefore important not only to define them, but also to consciously develop and implement them in practice. During the training week, we offered participants the opportunity to explore, discuss, and apply these questions through dialogue, collaboration, and practical methods,” said Professor Margit Sutrop, Head of the Centre for Ethics of the University of Tartu.

Discussions among participants clearly highlighted that questions related to values can often be complex and lead to differing viewpoints. At the same time, participants emphasised the importance of learning how to address these topics consciously and openly. As one participant, Associate Professor Arusa Khalid from Comenius University Bratislava, noted: „Ethics should not be a side topic in education, research, or organisations, but something that is considered from the very beginning.”

The four-day programme was designed to move from theory to practice

The first day focused on society and dialogue, exploring ways to understand different value frameworks and work with communities. The second day centred on education, including discussions on teaching values and a visit to Raadi Kindergarten Ripsik, a recipient of the Centre’s recognition programme. The third day highlighted the connections between research and values. Topics included research ethics, responsible research practices, and ethical questions related to artificial intelligence. The programme continued at Susimetsa Philosophicum in Pärnu County, where participants discussed international cooperation and explored Estonian-German collaborative projects. They also attended a lecture by Professor Margit Sutrop on the ethics of artificial intelligence and Estonia’s AI Leap educational programme, followed by discussions on how the rise of AI is reshaping questions about the aims of education and what — and how — universities should teach. It was noted that natural scientists and scholars in the humanities may have fundamentally different views on the extent to which students should be allowed to use AI.

The week culminated in practical applications. On the final day, discussions focused on how value-based ideas can be brought into society and the market — for example, through the Centre’s discussion games. The programme concluded with shared reflections.

Participant feedback highlighted the programme’s diversity and practical relevance. The training week brought together an international group of participants in Tartu, including representatives from the University of Tartu as well as other European institutions: the University of the Basque Country (Spain), Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), University of Bern (Switzerland), University of Galway (Ireland), Uppsala University (Sweden), University of Göttingen (Germany), and the Central European Institute of Technology (Czech Republic).

Enlight universities organise staff training weeks of up to five days each academic year to support professional development, foster networking within the alliance, and enable the exchange of best practices. More information about the Enlight staff training week programme can also be found online.