Uudised

The University of Tartu will welcome hundreds of students, researchers and academics from around the world in 2027 as it hosts the European Summer School in Logic, Language and Information (ESSLLI) for the first time in Estonia.

On 19 June, the senate approved the objectives and principles for using artificial intelligence (AI), establishing a comprehensive framework for applying AI in teaching, research and support services at the university. The document defines the role of AI at the university, the objectives pursued through its use, and the principles that university members should observe when using AI.

Twelve interdisciplinary doctoral positions will be created at the University of Tartu to explore potential applications of artificial intelligence, including, for example, addressing mental health issues, reducing food waste, assessing the overall impact of spatial planning, and facilitating sign language interpreting.

Academic freedom refers to the ability of students, teaching staff, and researchers to express their views freely and ensures the independence of universities. In Estonia, academic freedom remains high, but according to a recent report, it is declining worldwide.

Diversity Day is celebrated in Estonia and across Europe on 13 May, the second Wednesday in May, and the whole month is marked as Diversity Month. The aim is to value the uniqueness of every individual and emphasise the importance of an inclusive, respectful and fair working environment.

On May 11, a new seminar series on using AI in the humanities and social sciences is starting.

On 29 April, Denim Day will be marked in Estonia for the first time to express support for survivors of sexual violence and to emphasise that no choice of clothing ever constitutes consent. Everyone is invited to wear jeans on this day as a sign of solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.

From 20 April, all University of Tartu staff and students will receive an email invitation to participate in a study that aims to provide an overview of attitudes, knowledge and experiences related to sexual harassment, workplace bullying and discrimination at the university.

On April 22, a seminar will take place to discuss humanities publishing in the age of AI.

From 24 April, Eveliis Padar will start work at the university as an equality officer to support university members in cases of unequal treatment and to help handle them in a fair and professional manner.

On May 6-8, the Center for Digital Text Studies (DigiTS), in cooperation with the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, will organize a 3-day workshop on network analysis in the humanities.

In the coming years, the University of Tartu will focus on developing practical solutions for promoting equal treatment to maintain and strengthen a safe learning and working environment for the entire university community. Planned activities include preventing sexual harassment and developing a system to handle such cases. An important basis for this work is the new gender equality plan for 2026–2030.

The University of Tartu is launching university-wide awareness activities to improve understanding of the principles of equal treatment and the support options available in cases of workplace bullying, unequal treatment and harassment. This forms part of the university’s ongoing work to create a safe and respectful learning and working environment.

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.

We wish our university community and friends a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

At its meeting on 2 December, the council of the University of Tartu Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics elected Associate Professor of General Linguistics Ann Veismann as the new head of the institute.

On 1 December, the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university, 142 doctoral degrees were conferred.

All university staff and students are invited to nominate candidates who deserve to be awarded the university’s honorary decoration for their outstanding achievements.

All in all, there are 16,052 students at the university.

The mentoring programme that has been popular in the previous years will be held again this autumn semester.