Faculty of Social Sciences Act of the Year Award goes to Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies

On 19–20 January 2026, the Faculty of Social Sciences Winter Days took place, where the recipients of the Outstanding Societal Contribution Award and the Act of the Year were announced.

Act of the Year 2025

The Faculty of Social Sciences Act of the Year 2025 is awarded to the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies for its outstanding contribution to serving society.

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The institute has consistently opened the university to the public, offering knowledge-based discussions on pressing national and international issues through high‑quality public lectures, conferences, discussions, trainings, and e‑courses. This steady, open, and impactful activity strengthens public decision-making capacity and reaffirms the university’s role as a reliable creator and mediator of knowledge.

The purpose of the Act of the Year Award is to recognise an initiative or event that has brought positive attention to the field and stood out within the university or society. The collective or unit receiving the award will hold the travelling trophy for one year.

Outstanding Societal Contribution Award

Candidates for the Outstanding Societal Contribution Award could be nominated by the head of an institute or college, at least three institute employees, or the field’s student council. All recognised staff members receive a letter of appreciation from the dean and a monetary award.

The recipients of the Outstanding Societal Contribution Award are:

• Liisi Pajula, Junior Research Fellow in Educational Science at the Institute of Education

Liisi Pajula is a person with a sharp social awareness and strong initiative, consistently dedicated to sustainable development topics. In 2025, she participated in organising nationwide “dreaming workshops” and spoke on the topic in the media. She has published articles in the field of sustainable development and spoken at numerous professional and public events. She has also promoted international cooperation and successfully applied for and carried out several projects.

• Stefano Braghiroli, Associate Professor of European Studies at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies

Stefano Braghiroli has been extremely active in popularising his field in the media; his commentary has strengthened the public’s understanding of European politics, security, and democracy. He has led several socially impactful projects that directly support society’s resilience to disinformation, the growth of educational capacity, and the interpretation of European integration. Internationally, he has been a speaker at high‑level policy and security forums. He has also lectured at several European universities, strengthening the University of Tartu’s international role in education and science diplomacy. Additionally, he plays a significant role in engaging young people and students in socially important discussions. His work connects academic knowledge with public life, youth political education, and debates about Europe’s future.

• Anneli Lorenz, Junior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the School of Economics and Business Administration

Anneli Lorenz is an outstanding colleague whose entrepreneurial mindset and innovativeness enrich our academic community. She is characterised by enthusiasm and a strong eagerness to learn. She has shown herself to be an eager implementer of ideas, capable of creating valuable opportunities for students, teaching staff, and external partners. She has played a key role in developing the university-wide internship portal and has become one of the main contributors to conceptualising future skills and developing learner‑centred self‑assessment tools for these skills. Her dedication to supporting students’ development and her enthusiastic approach to promoting future skills serve as an excellent example to all. Her work as an internship coordinator is highly professional, helping to increase the faculty’s openness and the university’s visibility in society. Her ability to ask constructive and thoughtfully critical questions inspires dialogue that leads to new solutions and perspectives. We therefore hold her and her work in high regard and believe she is a fully deserving candidate for the Outstanding Societal Contribution Award.

• Mare Kitsnik, Associate Professor of Estonian as Foreign Language at Narva College

Mare Kitsnik has consistently spoken in the media about the transition to Estonian-language education and introduced topics related to the field. She leads projects aimed at implementing the results of her own and her students’ research in the course of the education reform. She has participated as an expert in state-level working groups. She has served as the chief organiser and jury chair of her field’s student Olympiad. Overall, she has been an outstanding contributor to society.

• Annegrete Palu, Junior Lecturer in Experimental Psychology at the Institute of Psychology

Annegrete Palu’s pioneering research and outreach on the reliability of eyewitness testimony helps lawyers and psychologists better understand the importance of human factors in legal contexts. In her everyday work, she ensures fair and dignified treatment of students and colleagues—not only in theory but in practice. She has repeatedly emphasised how important it is to notice and appreciate people, preferably during their lifetime. We have listened, and today we recognise her!

• Grete Männikus, Junior Lecturer in Marketing at Pärnu College

Grete Männikus is like a fairy. A social media fairy. She lays her gentle hands on your work, and suddenly things start to go well. If an organisation needs to shape its brand, she or her students are the people to talk to—you won’t find better advice elsewhere. Or you can listen to her public online lectures such as “Authenticity in the Digital Age: How to Create a Brand That Truly Resonates?” and “How Service Design Can Turn Customer Experience Into a Competitive Advantage?”. Perhaps the university’s own marketing team should learn from her as well? And you should definitely join her thousand-strong fan club.

• René Värk, Associate Professor in International Law at the School of Law

We recognise René Värk for his outstanding contribution to shaping Estonia’s legal foreign policy in recent years. Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine raised fundamental questions about the applicability of international law to major powers and about accountability for violations of core international legal norms. As an international law expert, one may observe and analyse such issues from the sidelines—but one may also take action and contribute to bringing accountability closer. This is what he has done: combining his work as a lecturer with leading the International Law Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has represented Estonia’s positions, for example at the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court and at the UN General Assembly when reflecting on the work of the International Law Commission. He is also a highly regarded lecturer, consistently receiving excellent feedback from students.

• Kaarel Lott, Junior Research Fellow of Digital Media Studies at the Institute of Social Studies

Kaarel Lott studies the radicalisation of young men—an issue of crucial importance for understanding a pressing societal problem. In his first 1.5 years of work, he has already published high‑level articles and become highly visible in Estonia with his research topic. He is both empathetic and confident when discussing his research results publicly and appears to handle attacks on science well. He is also an excellent teacher and delivers hugely popular public lectures.

Congratulations to all the recipients!