Topic: recognition 

At the ceremony marking the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the Professor Peeter Tulviste memorial fund prizes, the Ernst Jaakson memorial fund scholarship, and the Lennart Meri awards for research and for master’s thesis were presented.

Ahead of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the University of Tartu announced the recipients of the contribution to society award, research award, language award and the teaching staff of the year awards for 2025.

The committee formed by the University of Tartu Student Union chose the recipients of the teaching staff of the year 2025 awards from among 100 nominees.

On Friday, 20 February, the ceremony and concert dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia took place in the university’s assembly hall.

Ahead of this year’s Independence Day, President Alar Karis bestows Estonian state decorations on 203 people, 16 of whom are members of the university family.

On 23 January, the University of Tartu Foundation recognised the scholarship recipients of the autumn semester of 2025 and thanked the foundation’s donors in the White Hall of the University of Tartu Museum. Scholarships were awarded from 33 funds in a total amount exceeding €200,000.

At the conference “Teaching for learning 2026”, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk presented the teaching awards and the teaching quality award of 2025.

With the annual awards, the university aims to recognise its employees’ and students’ outstanding achievements in teaching, doing research and serving society.

On 27 November, the University of Tartu announced its teaching excellence ambassadors, who set an example for the entire university community. The title is given to recognise 20 academic staff members who develop their teaching based on evidence and support an open teaching culture that values learning.

On 2 December 2025, Paul Cobley — Honorary Doctor of the University of Tartu — delivered a public lecture titled “Thinking: close and distant” as part of the Juri Lotman Lecture Series. The lecture is now available to watch online.