Topic: for society

The University of Tartu language award 2025 is granted to the exhibition of the University of Tartu Library, “Teaching creates knowledge. From Estonian lecture notes to academic textbooks”.

Although creativity has often been associated primarily with the fine arts, no field of life can do without it, least of all entrepreneurship and research.

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.

Selged ja adressaadiga arvestavad, teaduspõhised, ent inimeste toimevõimekuse suhtes lugupidavad sõnumid toetavad suhtluses osalejate vastastikust usaldust ning abistavad inimesi informeeritud terviseotsuste tegemisel.

Today, on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the main building is lit up in orange. On the initiative of the President Kaljulaid Foundation, buildings in Estonian cities are illuminated in shades of orange to draw attention to the issue of domestic abuse and call everyone to notice, care and take action.

On 27 October from 13–18, the University of Tartu development conference “A university for us, Estonia and the world” took place in the university assembly hall and online. Keynote speakers were Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Kersti Kaljulaid and Kristina Kallas.

The three-minute thesis competition for doctoral researchers, held at the University of Tartu Library on 22 October, featured 13 popular-science short lectures in Estonian and 14 in English.

University of Tartu semioticians Andreas Ventsel and Mari-Liis Madisson, along with Junior Research Fellow in Information Resilience Diana Poudel, have developed tools for enhancing critical digital literacy in cooperation with international partners. The practical materials are designed for use in higher education, schools, companies and organisations to support navigating the digital landscape and countering the spread of disinformation.

The new collection shows how emotions and affects shape political identities, amplify polarisation in times of crisis, and often turn public debate into emotional confrontation. „Power of Emotions. On the Affective Constitution of Political Struggle“ is edited by Andreas Ventsel, Professor of Political and Sociosemiotics at the University of Tartu, and Peeter Selg, Professor of Governance and Political Analysis at Tallinn University.

In Arvo Pärt’s jubilee year, the lectures from his year as a University of Tartu professor of liberal arts have become accessible to an international audience, as English subtitles have been added to the recordings of the lecture series.