Uudised

On 21 November the opening event of the new network of European research-intensive universities GUILD took place in Brussels. The gathering of 18 leading research-intensive universities is focused on science and innovation policy issues and seizing a leading role in the middle of the economic, cultural and social changes in the society.

At a meeting on Monday, the University of Tartu and the construction company AS YIT EHITUS agreed that the contractor will complete the second stage of works on the university library by 30 November this year. Thereafter the request for getting a permit for partial use is filed, and after the request is satisfied, the university can open a part of the library for readers.

On December 9th, at the University of Tartu’s initiative, the first international business festival sTARTUp Day 2016 will be held. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, students, and scientists will come together and more than 40 speakers will discuss successful business models.

With the help of the researchers of the University of Tartu, three thousand Estonians responding to the questionnaire will contribute to European Social Survey analysing the impacts of climate change risk. Researchers want to find out whether people’s behaviour and attitudes are influenced by awareness, resources or other factors.

More than 260 participants from Estonia and 20 foreign countries have registered to the online course “Diffusion and Impact of Internet Voting” offered by the UT Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. Due to a high demand and large interest in the online course, the registration deadline has been extended to 20th of November. One of the course organizers, Senior Research Fellow in Technology Studies, Kristjan Vassil, says that they are pleased to have such a large number of participants.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, published yesterday evening, UT holds the highest place of all times—it placed 301–350.

Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies is opening a new online course (MOOC) this autumn semester - ‘Diffusion and Impact of Internet Voting’, which will be taught in English and will last from 17.10.2016 to 11.12.2016. All interested can resister to the course at: https://goo.gl/5VVDan. The registration deadline is 14.10.2016.

The new director of the Centre for Migration and Urban Studies at the UT is Professor of the University at Buffalo, State University of New York and Research Fellow of the University of Tartu Dr Daniel B. Hess. The Centre explores contemporary challenges facing urban regions including migration, residential mobility, housing and neighbourhood change, as well as the integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities across multiple life domains (such as places of residence and work, as well as intermarriages).

It is extremely difficult to succeed in Asia without knowing the local language and culture. University of Tartu Asian Centre brings together Asian expertise which has until now been rather dispersed in Estonia, shares its experience and uses contacts of an international cooperation network to help the private and public sector, organisations or private persons with matters related to Asia. The centre’s work is not limited to China, Japan, Korea or India, it also includes Middle Eastern countries and Turkey.

University of Tartu placed 347 in the QS World University Rankings—this is the highest position an Estonian university has held since the first ranking was published in 2012. Last year UT placed 400 in the ranking. This year UT improved its position for five of the six QS indicators, including academic reputation which improved 22 places, employer reputation which improved more than 50 places and citations per faculty which improved two places.

The opening ceremony of the new academic year begins on 29 August at 10am in the UT assembly hall. In the new academic year more than 3,900 new students, incl. nearly 700 international (visiting) students, begin studies in all study levels at UT.

On 28 and 29 August, international research conference “Reflective Minds and Communities” takes place at the University of Tartu. The conference introduces the objectives and methods of reflection and presents ways to apply these to solve the key issues in modern education. Reflection is a systematic process of thinking where you learn from experience. Reflective thinking helps integrate knowledge and makes it better accessible and applicable. This way reflection also supports deep learning.

Tomorrow, on 23 August the conference “Estonia AND the Nordic countries—Estonia AS a Nordic country?”, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Estonia’s re-independence, takes place at the Art Museum of Estonia. The conference focuses on the narrative of Estonia as a Nordic country, its historical background and real perspectives. Authors of the best works of the preceding essay and photography contest on the same topic will also be awarded at the conference. The patron of the contests is President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

At the international innovation competition in Shanghai, which had more than 700 participants from 40 countries, UT doctoral students won first place with their idea about creating an innovative environmental indicator based on the analysis of the chemical composition of honey and which also promoted keeping bees in urban environments.

The 5th Martens Summer School of International Law, organized by the School of Law of the University of Tartu, will take place in Pärnu on 25-29 July 2016. This year, 30 students from Estonia, Belarus, Czechia, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia, Spain and Sweden will attend the Martens Summer School on International Law.

The Estonian Bar Association and the University of Tartu IT Law Programme announced the competition in order to develop solutions that would make it easier for specialists, and for people not practising law, to find answers to questions regarding legal matters.

On 15 July 2016, the lists of students admitted to the University of Tartu’s 2,342 bachelor’s and 1,417 master’s study places were published. 425 of Estonia’s best high school graduates, students who finished with a gold or silver medal, are on the lists, incl. 350 students who finished high school this year. By now the applicants have received the first results regarding the UT admission. All those who exceeded the admission threshold were guaranteed a study place.

The University of Tartu Rector invites all golfers who appreciate the beauty of the game to the traditional University of Tartu Rector’s Cup Golf Tournament, which takes place on 21 August 2016 at the Otepää Golf Center between the hills of South-Estonia. Players compete in individual class and, for the first time, also in the faculty competition. It is an open tournament and in addition to alumni, students and lecturers all competitive golf enthusiasts are welcome.

Nearly 350 people will be participating in the 2016 ECPR Graduate Student Conference, hosted by the UT Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies on 10-13 July. The ECPR Graduate Student Conference is a biennial conference which gives graduate students an opportunity to organize and take part in an international academic event designed to cater specifically for their needs, e.g. giving the experience of acting as section heads, panel chairs and discussants.

An international Cyber Security Summer School for doctoral students and young researchers titled “Digital Forensics – Technology and Law” is held in Tallinn from July 3-8, and brings together leading cyber security and IT law practitioners to Estonia from all over the world.