Activity Report2016

University of Tartu

Abbreviations

ACTIVITY REPORT 2016RECTOR’S FOREWORDGENERAL DATA ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TARTU 2012–2016GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

StructureStrategic plan

OPERATING ENVIRONMENTStrategic management trendsChanges in operating environment

TEACHING AND STUDIESCurriculaStart of studiesStudyingGraduation and interruption of studiesUsing feedbackDoctoral studies

RESEARCHFinancingPatents and patent applicationsCooperation with companiesPublications

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETYContinuing educationSharing knowledgeFeedback from society

ORGANISATIONEmployeesInternational cooperationCultural activitiesAlumni activitiesFinancial activities

678

101112121415151617202022222324242627272729323236383839

4

CONTENTS

Universities

EAA Estonian Acdemy of ArtsEAMT Estonian Acdemy of Music and TheatreEULS Estonian University of Life SciencesTU Tallinna UniversityTUT Tallinn University of TechnologyUT University of Tartu

Faculties of the University of Tartu

HV Faculty of Arts and Humanities

SV Faculty of Social Sciences

MV Faculty of Medicine

LT Faculty of Science and Technology

CountriesAT Austria IT IcelandAU Australia IT ItalyBE Belgium JP JapanBG Bulgaria KR KoreaCA Canada LV LatviaCH Switzerland LT LithuaniaCL Chile MT MaltaCN China MX MexicoCY Cyprus NE NetherlandsCZ Czech Republic NO NorwayDK Denmark NZ New ZealandDE Germany PL PolandEE Estonia PT PortugalES Spain RO RomaniaFI Finland RU RussiaFR France SE SwedenGR Greece SI SloveniaHR Croatia SK SlovakiaHU Hungary TR TurkeyIE Ireland UK United Kingdom

IL Israel US, USAUnited States of America

Other abbreviations

A2020 University of Tartu Strategic Plan for 2015–2020AS aktsiaselts (public limited company)ECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation

System credit pointEHIS Eesti Hariduse Infosüsteem

(Estonian Education Information System)ERR Estonian Public BroadcastingESI Essential Science IndicatorsETIS Eesti Teadusinfosüsteem

(Estonian Research Information System)FTE full time equivalenth-index highly cited indexHITSA Hariduse Infotehnoloogia Sihtasutus (Information

Technology Foundation for Education)ICT information and communication technologyIT information technologyMoER Estonian Ministry of Education and ResearchMOOC massive open online courseMTÜ mittetulundusühing (non-profit organisation)NGO non-governmental organisationOECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

Development

OSKAa system of labour market monitoring and future skills forecasting

OÜ osaühing (private limited company)PHEI professional higher education institutionPPP purchasing power parityQS QS World University RankingsR&D research and developmentRDI research, development and innovationSA sihtasutus (foundation)THE Times Higher Education World University RankingUSD US dollarUTTV University of Tartu Television

Abbreviations

Activity Report2016

University of Tartu

RECTOR’S FOREWORDDear readers,

Last year was a lively and innovative one for the University of Tartu. We started with a new management system and structure, launched new cooperation initiatives in studies and research, had an unprecedented opportunity to join the GUILD and LERU, the networks of top international universities. I am proud of and grateful to the university’s staff and our good partners, who contributed to the success of our alma mater over the vigorous past year.

Commitment to new challenges and developments does not mean that we neglected our traditional activities. All the results of the university’s main activities improved considerably over the year, owing to the dedicated work of our people. The great contribution by the university’s employees has ensured remarkable results: 120 defended doctoral degrees, nearly 2000 high-level publications, new research and development contracts made for nearly 50 million euros, 2871 new graduates, continuing education training provided to nearly 45,000 learners. The university is in excellent health in terms of both finances and human resources.

The university’s development and success rely on its people and therefore it is especially important for us to guarantee a convenient working environment and security to all university members, to support our people in achieving their goals as well as solving their possible problems. The university wants to have its face turned towards people, we care for our colleagues and work hard for their welfare. The job satisfaction survey shows gratifying results: our employees have given positive feedback to our efforts.

During the past year we agreed about good practices in different areas of activity, we have common family events and culture days, we have training communities and a number of free training options to support our employees’ development. The university has shown initiative to enable our staff members to get discounts at restaurants, cultural institutions, travel agencies and other service providers. When our employees fall ill, the university pays them full sickness benefit from the second to the eighth day of illness. The university provides counselling service to its employees with work-related, psychological or interpersonal problems.

We also have well-considered support services for students, incl. student advisers, student exchange coordinators, psychologists, career and entrepreneurship counsellors, tutors and support students. We have more possibilities to support above-average students, granting them scholarships, enabling them to complete the curriculum earlier than the standard period of study, developing an individual curriculum, widening the choice of specialisations on the next level of study. The university’s sports club, students’ club and museums take care of our students’ leisure activities.

The university is growing and developing. This development and success is possible only thanks to our people. As a rector, I look back on the last year and the past four years with satisfaction and wish that the coming years would be full of innovation, yet smooth, as we shape the university of our dreams.

With best wishes for success,

Volli KalmRector of the University of Tartu

7

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

EMPLOYEESNumber of employees 3,778 3,739 3,708 3,479 3,447Number of employees (FTE) 3,161 3,129 3,080 2,862 2,825

incl. academic staff 47.9% 48.7% 49.3% 50.4% 49.6%Number of teaching and research staff (FTE) 1,515 1,525 1,520 1,443 1,402

incl. PhD holders 71.5% 70.5% 70.2% 71.7% 73.0%

incl. international research and teaching staff 8.3% 9.4% 9.3% 8.5% 8.4%Number of professors (FTE) 177 180 178 173 172

incl. female professors 20.7% 20.8% 20.5% 22.7% 23.7%STUDENTSNumber of students 17,370 16,025 14,470 13,719 12,970

in first level of higher education 64.3% 62.9% 61.7% 61.3% 60.6%in master’s studies 27.0% 28.0% 28.6% 28.8% 29.7%in doctoral studies 8.7% 9.1% 9.7% 9.8% 9.7%

Number of international students 546 579 686 821 980percentage of all students 3.1% 3.6% 4.7% 6.0% 7.6%

Number of graduates 3,038 3,117 2,907 2,887 2,871incl. number of PhD graduates 95 114 117 107 120

STRUCTURENumber of curricula open for admissions 182 182 190 167 163Number of curricula in which students were enrolled 190 193 195 201 207

incl. number of joint curricula 7 8 8 8 8incl. English-taught curricula in the first and second level of higher education

12 14 16 21 23

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONSNumber of publications 2,744 2,879 2,870 2,644 2,676

incl. number of high-level publications 1.810 1.957 1.958 1.857 1.909incl. number of publications of the category 1.1 1.074 1.175 1.335 1.252 1.358

POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY RANKINGSTimes Higher Education World University Rankings 351–400 351–400 351–400 301–350

QS World University Rankings 501–550 461–470 379 400 347

General data on the University of Tartu 2012 –2016

The University of Tartu improved its position in two most important university rankings. In QS World University Rankings, the university rose to the 347th, its highest ever position. This result was achieved thanks to improvement in two indicators – the university’s reputation and reputation among employers. In the QS subject rankings, Communication and Media Studies have been ranked the highest for four years already (101–150), while English Language and Literature (251–300), Modern Languages (251–300) and Medicine (301–350) have maintained their position. Of new subjects, Linguistics (101–150) and Computer Science and Information Systems (401–450) achieved high rankings.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, the 2016 position of the university was particularly improved by an increase in research reputation. In the overall THE ranking, the university is placed between 301–350, in the regional emerging economies university rankings, it has risen to the highest so far, 24th place.

Employee figures are given as full-time equivalent (FTE) as on 31 December.

Student figures are presented as on 10 November. The number of students does not include external students, visiting students and medical residents. The first level of higher education includes professional higher education, bachelor’s studies and integrated bachelor’s and master’s studies.

The number of graduates of a given year refers to students who completed their studies during the period from 1 October of the previous calendar year to 30 September of the given calendar year.

The number of curricula open for admissions includes curricula for which the status in the Estonian Education Information System (EHIS) was “open” as on 10 November. This does not include joint curricula which are not coordinated by the University of Tartu. The number of curricula in which students were enrolled includes curricula in which students were enrolled as on 10 November (including all joint curricula).

The number of publications includes Estonian Research Information System (ETIS) categories 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.3, 6.4. High-level publications include ETIS categories 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 ja 3.1. The number of publications includes those authored by persons who had a valid employment contract with the University of Tartu or who were enrolled as regular or external doctoral students in the corresponding calendar year. The data is retrieved from ETIS as of 15 February.

→ ut.ee/et/ulikoolist/tartu-ulikool-rahvusvahelistes-edetabelites

→ ut.ee/et/ulikool-arvudes

8

GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

Members of the council• Kersti Kaljulaid

(Council Member and Chair until 10.10.2016)

• Vahur Kraft (Council Chair from 31.10.2016)

• Professor Toomas Asser• Toomas Kiho • Professor Toivo Maimets• Professor Kari Olavi Raivio • Professor Peeter Saari• Professor Jüri Sepp• Aku Sorainen • Kaja Tael • Professor Paul Varul

Members of the senate as on 31.12.2016Faculty of Arts and Humanities

• Lecturer Tuulike Kivestu• Professor Birute Klaas-Lang• Lecturer Ain Riistan• Professor Anti Selart

Faculty of Social Sciences

• Professor Eiki Berg• Professor Halliki Harro-Loit• Professor Marju Luts-Sootak• Professor Urmas Varblane

Faculty of Medicine

• Senior Research Fellow Leho Ainsaar

• Professor Irja Lutsar• Professor Mihkel Zilmer• Professor Vahur Ööpik

Faculty of Science and Technology

• Professor Jaak Kikas• Professor Maia Kivisaar• Professor Enn Lust• Professor Jaak Vilo

students

• Indrek Peedu• Reelika Alunurm• Martin Noorkõiv• Liis Puis• Nils Joonas Kristian Saar

The highest decision-making body of the UT is the council, who is responsible for the university’s economic activities and long-term development, approves the university’s statutes and adopts the strategic plan and budget. The first university council was appointed in 2011 for a five-year period. The council has eleven members: five nominated by the UT, five by the Minister for Education and Research, and one by the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The powers of the former council ended on 31 December 2016. The authority of Kersti Kaljulaid as a council member and chair ended on 10 October as she assumed the office of the President of the Republic of Estonia. The council continued work with 10 members until the end of 2016.

The new statutes of the university took effect on 1 January 2016 and brought about a new academic structure and changes in the governance. Instead of the former departments, teaching and research is now conducted in four faculties of the University of Tartu:

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities (HV),• Faculty of Social Sciences (SV),• Faculty of Medicine (MV),• Faculty of Science and Technology (LT).

There are also five non-faculty institutions in the academic structure: Estonian Genome Centre, University of Tartu Museum, Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, Library, Youth Academy.

The senate is the university’s highest academic decision-making body, who is responsible for the university’s teaching, research and development activities and for ensuring excellent quality of these activities. The senate comprises 22 members: rector as the chair of the senate, four representatives of each faculty of the university, and five student representatives. The senate is elected for a term of three years. The second senate took office on 1 July 2014.

Professor Volli Kalm has served as the rector of the UT since 1 July 2012. The rector is responsible for the day-to-day management of the UT and for the lawful and expedient use of financial resources and exercises the UT’s highest administrative and disciplinary authority within his competence pursuant to the resolutions of the council and the senate. As of 1 January 2016, Rector’s Office includes the rector, vice rectors, heads of specific areas of responsibility and deans.

Members of the Council of the University of Tartu after colloquium in November 2016

Size and number of academic units of the University of Tartu before and after structural reform

29319 91 2360 50 4919583 398 44 773 152

number of employees (FTE) in departments and colleges

institutes

humaniora medicinarealia et naturaliasocialia

403 460 442 925

number of employees (FTE) in faculties

institutesand colleges

HV MV LTSV

structure before 2016 structure as of 2016

9

Rector’s Office as on 31.12.2016

Before the structural reform the University of Tartu had nine departments and four colleges with 50 subunits, but from 2016, there are four faculties in the UT, comprising 25 institutes and four colleges. The new structure facilitates integration between specialties, involvement of the university’s staff and responsibility in making strategic decisions.

Objective of A2020: the university follows the interdisciplinary balance and peculiarities of areas when making strategic decisions

Professor Volli Kalm Rector

Marco Kirm Vice Rector for Science

Erik Puura Vice Rector for Development

Mart Noorma Vice Rector for Academic Affairs

Professor Margus Lember Dean of the Faculty of

Medicine

Professor Peeter Burk Dean of the Faculty of Science

and Technology

Professor Raul Eamets Dean of the Faculty of Social

Sciences

Andres Liinat Director of Administration

Andres Soosaar Academic Secretary

Taimo Saan Head of Finance

Professor Margit Sutrop Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Structure of the University of Tartu (as on 31.12.2016)

Faculty of Social SciencesFaculty of Arts and Humanities

Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Science and Technology

DeanProfessor

Peeter Burk

Dean Professor

Raul Eamets

Dean Professor

Margit Sutrop

Dean Professor

Margus Lember

Vice Rector for ResearchMarco Kirm Vice Rector for

Academic AffairsMart Noorma

Vice Rector for Development

Erik Puura

Head of FinanceTaimo Saan

Director of Administration

Andres LiinatAcademic Secretary

Andres Soosaar

RectorProfessorVolli Kalm

University Council Senate

Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine

Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy

Institute of Dentistry

Institute of Clinical Medicine

Institute of Pharmacy

Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health

Estonian Marine Institute

Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

Institute of Technology

Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology

Institute of Chemistry

Institute of Physics

Institute of Computer Science

Institute of Mathematics and Statistics

University of Tartu Youth Academy

Technology Transfer Unit (Office of Research and Development)

Marketing and Communication Office

Human Resources Office

Estates Office

Administrative Office

Information Technology Office

Rector’s Strategy Office

Internal Audit OfficeFinance Office

School of Theology and Religious Studies

Institute of History and Archaeology

Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics

Institute of Cultural Research and Arts

College of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Viljandi Culture Academy

Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics

Office of Academic Affairs

Student Council

School of Law

School of Economics and Business Administration

Narva College

Pärnu College

Institute of Social Studies

Institute of Education

Institute of Psychology

Johan Skytte institute of Political Studies

Estonian Genome Centre

University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden

University of Tartu Museum

University of Tartu Library

Office of Research and Development

Lifelong Learning Centre

10

Structure of the University of Tartuas on 31.12.2016

doctoral schools 134.000

internationalisation of studies 290.000

entrepreneurship 210.000

activities with schools 160.000

lifelong learning 120.000

earth resources centre 100.000

Asian research centre 150.000

teaching and supervising skills 65.000

self-expression skills in Estonian 82.000

centre for clinical studies 290.000

high-performance computing centre 150.000

enterprising university 150.000

health technologies 60.000

centre of learning analytics 50.000 centre for information society 50.000guidelines for research ethics 50.000

support system for successful application for external funding 50.000

alumni network 32.000

partnership with enterprises and organisations 80.810

good practice of management 16.750

shared-resource labs 250.000

survey among Latvian students 16.750

PhD student places not funded by activity support 36.000

centre for disease models 34.000

centre for IT impact studies 93.500 translational genomics centre 125.146

teaching quality award 30.000

best teaching staff awards 35.000

11

Strategic PlanThe activities of the University of Tartu are guided by the Strategic Plan for 2015–2020 and its goals are elaborated by the faculties’ strategic plans and key indicators.

Every year the rector approves the university’s goals in five fields of activities: teaching and studies, research and development, entrepreneurship, organisation, Estonian language and culture and national cultural assets.

18 key performance indicators were agreed in 2016 to monitor and evaluate the university’s development:

• number of high-level publications per academic staff member;

• percentage of publications among the world’s 10% most cited research publications;

• percentage of revenue from R&D not funded from national funding programmes in the total R&D revenue;

• share of students admitted to the first level of higher education at the University of Tartu among all students admitted to the first level of higher education in Estonian higher education institutions;

• number of continuing education learners;

• percentage of completed entrepreneurship courses in the total volume of studies;

• students’ overall satisfaction with teaching and courses; • interruption rate in the first and second level of higher

education;• percentage of doctoral graduates in the number of

students admitted four years (standard period of study) ago;

• percentage of English-taught curricula in the first and second level of higher education;

• percentage of international students;• percentage of international academic staff;• percentage of academic staff who participated actively

in teaching-related development activities; • income per academic staff member;• percentage of structural units in a good or satisfactory

financial standing;• employees’ overall satisfaction;• University of Tartu master’s graduates’ satisfaction with

their competitiveness in the labour market; • evaluation of the University of Tartu’s entrepreneurial

spirit.

The institutional development programme ASTRA for research and development and higher education institutions supports the achievement the UT strategic plan goals. In the course of the University of Tartu’s ASTRA project PER ASPERA, the objective of the university in the years 2016–2022 is to:

• increase the volume of academic, research and entrepreneurial cooperation and interdisciplinarity by improving study and work conditions, with the main emphasis in the area of ICT;

• increase the efficiency of studies through improved teaching and learning skills and conditions;

• improve access to the university’s modern research infrastructure and high-quality knowledge. The total support allocated to the University of Tartu is more than 42.3 million euros.

The objective of the University of Tartu development fund is to support the implementation of the strategic plan, incl. primarily, cross-faculty developments. When making allocations from the development fund, relations with implementation of the university’s RDI focuses and orientation on cross-unit cooperation is taken into account.

The size of development fund was 2.82 million euros in 2016

→ ut.ee/en/indicators

In 2016, the compiling of important good practices continued. Good practices support the values voiced in the university’s strategic plan and the regulations provided in the bylaws. The compilation of the good practice of research work and the good practice of management started in 2016. The management seminar in autumn discussed the implementation of the Anti-corruption Act and the avoidance of conflict of interest. In 2016, also the guidelines for equal treatment and the schemes explaining how to resolve unequal treatment complaints for staff and students were completed.

→ ut.ee/et/ulikoolist/head-tavad-ulikoolis

0.8% 0.9% 0.8%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Public expenditure in Estonia on research and development as percentage of GDP in 2011–2015.

Source: Ministry of Education and Research (MoER)

EL‐28

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT HU

MT

NE

AT

PLPTRO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

0% 1% 2% 3% 4%

R&D expe

nditu

re per re

searcher (1

000 €)

total R&D expenditure (% of GDP)

EL‐28average164,000 €

EL‐28 average2.0%

Total research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP and per researcher in EU countries in 2015.

Source: Eurostat, Science and technology statistics (rd_p_persocc, rd_e_gerdtot, data accessed in February 2017)

12

OPERATING ENVIRONMENTStrategic management trends

Expenditure per one researcher in Estonia is only 44% of the EU average. The ratio of total R&D expenditure in Estonia in relation to the gross domestic product was 1.5% in 2015 (in the EU on average 2,0%). R&D expenditure per one researcher in Estonia was 72,000 euros in 2015, in the EU on average 164,000 euros.

In 2017, Estonia will transition to accrual budgeting and in 2020, to activity-based budgeting. One of the premises of activity-based budgeting, the mapping of public services is planned to be completed by summer 2017. In research, budgeting is based on the implementation plan of the Estonian Research and Development and Innovation Strategy 2014–2020 “Knowledge-based Estonia”. In education, achievement of the objectives of “Estonian Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020” and budgeting is based on nine programmes, incl. the higher education programme.

→ hm.ee/et/tegevused/arengukavad

Government plans strategic changes in the management and funding of the RDI system in Estonia. In June 2016, the government decided to form a taskforce on research funding and management. The taskforce should prepare the consolidation of higher education and research institutions and their support services, and the implementation of proposals on research and higher education funding as provided in the report of the Research and Development Council for 2015.

Government increases research funding. The government’s action programme for 2016–2019 sets the target to raise the R&D expenditure to one percent of GDP, increase the share of base funding to 50% of research funding, and increase grants to doctoral students. In 2016, base funding of research institutions grew 50% compared with 2015, from 9.3 to 13.9 million euros.

→ valitsus.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/valitsuse-tegevusprogramm-0

The modelling of the operating environment of the university depends on the strategies and financial instruments of Estonia and the EU

In December 2016, the Riigikogu approved amendments to the Accounting Act, which stipulated that public sector entities should be ready to accept e-invoices from 1 March 2017, and entrepreneurs to send standard e-invoices to the public sector from 1 July 2017.

→ fin.ee/e-arved

The government of Estonia wants to reduce bureaucracy in the public sector. The government aims to identify and terminate unnecessary activities, i.e. related with coordinating, reporting etc., in and between public sector institutions. Proposals related with law amendments are processed by the taskforce for reducing bureaucracy.

→ mkm.ee/et/nullburokraatia

In 2016, a new concept for research funding was developed by the Estonian Research Council, Ministry of Education and Research and research institutions. According to the concept, the former base funding will become activity support and institutional and personal research funding will become an integrated research funding system. Gradual transition to the new system will start in 2017.

→ riigikantselei.ee/et/teaduse-rakkeruhm

AU

AT

BE

CA

CL

CZ

DK

EE

FIFR

DE

HU

ISIE

IL

IT

JP

KR

MX

NL

NZ

NO

PL

PT

SK

SI

ES

SE

CH

UK

US

LV

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0%

annu

al expen

diture per stud

ent (USD

, PPP)

public spending on tertiary education (% GDP)

OECD average1.1%

OECD average10,493

Public expenditure on higher education as a percentage of GDP and per student per year in OECD countries in 2013

(PPP – purchasing power parity). Source: OECD

13

According to OECD review for 2016, Estonia spends more on higher education than other OECD countries, but expenditure per student is less than the average in OECD countries. Based on the 2013 data, Estonian public investment in higher education institutions was 1.9% of GDP, which is the highest among OECD countries. Expenditure per one student per year in Estonia in 2013 was 8107 US dollars (OECD average is 10,493 US dollars), considering purchasing power parity.

→ oecd-ilibrary.org/education/ education-at-a-glance-2016_eag-2016-en

In 2014–2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 and the programme for education, training, youth and sport Erasmus+ are the most influential programmes supporting the development of European universities. Horizon 2020 budget is 77 billion euros and Erasmus+ budget 14.7 billion euros.

OSKA analyses the needs for labour and skills necessary for Estonia’s economic development over the next 10 years. The programme for closer integration of the labour market and studies analyses the labour market’s needs for labour and skills, using a uniform methodology. Economy is divided into 24 OSKA areas. Market needs and training offers are analysed annually and proposals are made for their better harmonisation in five or six OSKA areas.

→ oska.kutsekoda.ee

The total funding for centres of excellence in research, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is approximately 39 million euros. In 2016 nine new centres of excellence started operation. Average support per centre of excellence is 4.3 million euros.

ASTRA is an institutional development programme for research and development and higher education institutions, valued at 121.3 million euros, aiming to:

• strengthen smart specialisation growth areas and areas of responsibility of the institutions;

• facilitate the cooperation of research institutions with business enterprises;

• enhance the economic impact of R&D activities.

ASTRA support for the development of teaching and research was given to 20 institutions, total amount 67.4 million euros. The major recipients of the support were University of Tartu (27.3 million euros), Tallinn University of Technology (16.1 million euros) and Tallinn University (6.1 million euros). ASTRA investment plan supports the building or renovation of seven research and academic buildings with 54.1 million euros in total. 15 million euros were assigned to the UT for building the IT centre.

Supported by ASTRA, the university will create a modern environment in Tartu to increase the number of ICT students and staff and to intensify interdisciplinary cooperation of students, researchers and entrepreneurs. The new academic and research building DELTA of the School of Economics, Institute of Computer Science and Institute of Mathematics and Statistics will be completed in autumn 2019 in the city centre in place of the current building of the School of Economics. The neighbouring properties were given to the university by Tartu city government for free.

339 million euros of EU structural aid is directed to Estonian higher education and R&D in 2014–2020

The winner of the architectural competition for the IT centre organised by the University of Tartu and the city of Tartu was the conceptual idea by architectural company “Arhitektid11 OÜ” (leader Illimar Truverk, co-authors Joanna Kordemets, Kristjan Lind and Sander Paljak)

Activity support allocated to institutions of higher education by the state in 2016 in euros. Source: Ministry of Education and Research (MoER)

UT 47.8

TUT 36.8

TU 18.9

EULS 12.1

other 35.3

Number of educational institutions that offered higher education curricula in 2012–2016 (as at the beginning of the academic year).

Source: EHIS

2926 25 24

21

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

public vocational education institutionsprivate PHEIspublic PHEIsprivate universitiespublic universities

‐28%

Number of students in Estonia by sources of funding in 2012–2016. Source: EHIS

64,80655,214

  47,794

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

tuition‐fee paying studentsnon‐fee paying students

‐26%

14

Since 2013, the financing allocated to the university has been performance-based activity support.

In 2016, the University of Tartu and the Ministry of Education and Research signed an agreement for allocation of activity support for 2016–2018. In the agreement, the objectives and activities for ensuring the quality and effective organisation of studies and teaching, and improving coherence to society were agreed on.

In December 2016, the government of Estonia approved performance indicators, according to which the perfor-mance-based activity support is calculated for institutions of higher education starting from 2017.

Up to 17% of performance-based funding is allocated based on the achievement of performance indicators and up to 3% based on the evaluation of the performance of the activity support agreement.

→ riigiteataja.ee/akt/131122016048

32% of higher education activity support was allocated to the University of Tartu in 2016

Changes in operating environmentThe number of students and the number of higher education institutions have decreased over the last five years. In the academic year 2016/2017, there are 21 institutions offering higher education in Estonia and in total 47,794 students studied at the level of higher education (79% of them in free student places).

Over ten years (2007–2016), the percentage of students studying computer science and technology has increased (from 19% to 25%) and the percentage of students studying social sciences and business has decreased (from 40% to 30%).

According to Statistics Estonia, in 2016 the unemployment rate of working-age people was 3.9% for people with higher education, 7.8% for people with vocational or secondary education and 12.7% for people with primary or basic education. The government’s objective is for at least 40% of people in the age group 30–34 to have higher education.

Performance indicators of higher education at the state level

→ haridussilm.ee

2012 2013 2014 2015 2020

Employment rate of people aged 20–34 who completed higher education 1–3 years ago, %

84.3 85.5 86.7 88.0

Percentage of people with higher education in the age group 30–34, %

39.5 42.5 43.2 45.2 40.0

Number of English-taught curricula opened for admissions in the first and second level of higher education in 2012–2016 (incl. joint curricula)

(key performance indicator)

12 1421

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

75%

Change in the number of curricula open for admissions in the University of Tartu.

Source: EHIS

182 163

2012 2016

‐10%

Number of curricula open for admissions in 2016 in the University of Tartu. Source: EHIS

1st level of higher education (58)master's studies (71)doctoral studies (34)

163curricula

15

TEACHING AND STUDIESCurricula

In 2016 students were admitted to 163 curricula. The number of curricula open for admissions has decreased 10.4% in four years. The university continues to regularly review, update and join or close curricula.

Number of curricula by levels in 2012/2013 and in 2016/2017

level of study

2012/2013 2016/2017

with open admission*

with enrolled students

with open admission*

with enrolled students

first level of higher education 69 69 58 79

master’s studies 78 86 71 93doctoral studies 35 35 34 35

total 182 190 163 207

* Curricula of the University of Tartu for which the status in the EHIS curricula register was “open” as of 10 November

A2020 objective: the university develops existing curricula and creates new international curricula based on strong research fields, providing students with a motivating international learning environment of excellent quality and competitiveness in the labour market

The University of Tartu has followed the principle that in bachelor’s studies, an English-taught curriculum may be opened only if it is also possible to study in Estonian in that particular field of study.

In the academic year 2016/2017, students were admitted to 23 English-taught curricula, most of these (20) are master’s programmes. In 2016 one new bachelor’s curriculum (Science and Technology) and two new English-taught master’s curricula (Excellence in Analytical Chemistry; International Law and Human Rights) were opened for admissions.

In 2016, a total of 1049 students studied in English-taught curricula, 69% of them international students.

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/oppekavad

Action plan: reform of curricula, taking into consideration the university’s resources, needs of the labour market, demographic situation and state priorities

From 2014–2017 the university reforms curricula of the first and second level of study. The objective of the reform is to improve the quality of studies and ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of studies in the changing external conditions. In 2016, the Academic Affairs Committee analysed the reform criteria and submitted a proposal of updating the curricula evaluation and funding model to the Rector’s Office and the council. In 2016 the council approved the principles of budgeting for 2017, in which the curricula reform measure was linked with the funding of academic units.

Since 2017 the curricula reform supports the achievement of targets specified in the Strategic Plan and the agreement of allocation of higher education activity support (so-called performance agreement), evaluating curricula based on the following criteria:

• learners’ satisfaction,• multicultural learning environment,• student mobility,• organisation of traineeship,• completed entrepreneurship courses,• interdisciplinarity,• successful completion of studies,• completion of the curriculum.

The purposeful activities of institutes and colleges for improving the quality of degree studies and teaching are supported by the development fund of the university.

29

1,225

27

379

38

114

223

128

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

        openuniversity    studies

regularstudies

2016 1–2 years ago 3–5 years ago over 5 years ago

Percentage of students admitted to the first level of higher education of the University of Tartu in 2016 by year of graduating from general education school

1st level of higher education (2,281)master's studies (1,413)doctoral studies (177)

3,871admittedstudents

Number of students admitted to the University of Tartu by levels in 2016

4,249 3,302 3,871

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

‐9%

Number of students admitted to the University of Tartu in 2012–2016

16

Start of studiesIn 2016, 7,556 students completed general secondary education in Estonia. 3,897 of them (52%) continued studies at an Estonian higher education institution. Public universities admitted a total of 6,565 students to the first level of higher education, which shows that secondary school graduates of previous years and applicants to distance learning take up an important share of student places.

Compared with 2012, the number of students admitted to the University of Tartu at the first level of higher education has decreased in all areas of study, except in the area of ICT and health care, in which admissions numbers have increased by 14% and 18%, respectively.

In 2016, a total of 3,989 students joined the university’s student body on the three levels of higher education. The majority – 3,871 students*– started studies in the first year of their respective level of study, the rest continued previously interrupted studies or were transferred from another higher education institution, applying for a vacant student place.

In 2016, 2,281 students started their studies in the first level of higher education in UT: 1,559 in bachelor’s studies, 425 in professional higher education studies, and 297 in integrated bachelor’s and master’s studies. In 2016, recent graduates of upper secondary school amounted to 55% of the students admitted to the first level of higher education at the University of Tartu (63% in 2015).Students from all counties of Estonia

started their studies in the first level of higher education at UT. The largest percentage came from Harju (27%) and Tartu County (26%). The percentage of matriculated students was also higher for counties which have regional colleges of the university.

In 2016, 101% of student places were filled in the first level of higher education and 96% of student places in the second level of higher education.

Number of student places formed for admission** and filling of student places in 2015 and 2016

2015 2016number of

student places for admission

student places filled

number of student places for admission

student places filled

first level of higher education 2,311 100% 2,342 101%

master’s studies 1,357 91% 1,417 96%

** number of student places does not include the student places of joint curricula coordinated by other universities

PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT: the university increases the number of admitted students in the curricula group of computer science and IT

Number of students admitted to UT in the curricula group of computer science and IT in 2015 and 2016

level of study 2015 2016first level of higher education 163 175master’s studies 156 228

doctoral studies 12 14

total 331 417

The number of new master’s students in 2016 was 1,413. The proportion of students coming to the University of Tartu from other universities is also growing year by year. Of students admitted to master’s studies at UT in 2016, 44% had completed their previous studies elsewhere: 21% at a foreign university, 6% at Tallinn University, 4% at Tallinn University of Technology, 2% at Estonian University of Life Sciences.

In 2016, 418 international students started studies at the University of Tartu. The majority of the newly matriculated international students came from Ukraine (55), Russia (40), Finland (29), Georgia (27) and Latvia (20).

With the increased number of new English-taught curricula, the percentage of admitted international students in master’s studies has tripled compared to 2012. 21% of the students admitted to master’s studies in 2016 were international students.

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/vastuvoetud

* Number of admitted students includes people who were matriculated between 11 November 2015 and 10 November 2016 and had student status as of 10 November 2015. This includes students of joint curricula. This is why the number of students admitted to the UT differs from the national statistics of EHIS which accounts for students admitted to joint curricula only among the students of the coordinating university.

2,883(22%)

1,901(15%)

2,461(19%)

5,725(44%)

HV

SV

MV

LT

Number of students and distribution between four faculties in 2016

17,370 14,470 12,970

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

‐25%

Number of students of the University of Tartu Ülikooli in 2012–2016

60%

30%

10%

1st level of higher education (7,866)master's studies (3,846)doctoral studies (1,258)

12,970students

Number and percentage of students in the University of Tartu by levels in 2016

17

In 2016, 12,970 students studied at the University of Tartu. 90% of them were in non-fee-paying student places. 8% of the students were international students. The number of students has decreased 5%.

E-learningA2020 objective: the university supports innovation and the use of technology and cooperation in studies

Modernisation of study methods and forms is one of the university’s objectives and to achieve that, web-based study opportunities are created and developed. E-learning is mostly used in combination with classroom work, to facilitate students’ individual work.

In 2016, the University of Tartu offered ten MOOCs, massive open online courses, which had altogether 8,001 learners of whom 4,119 graduated. The percentage of graduates was 54%, which is exceptionally high for MOOCs.

In 2016, seven UT’s courses applied for the e-course quality mark, which was awarded to five of them:

• Development and marketing project (Tatjana Koor);• Biochemistry (Rando Porosk, Ursel Soomets, Mihkel Zilmer, Kalle Kilk);• Communication management in public sector organisations (Tiiu Taur);• Communication management in business enterprises (Tiiu Taur);• About programming (Eno Tõnisson, Marina Lepp, Tauno Palts, Reelika

Suviste, Vello Vaherpuu, Kaspar Papli, Hanna-Liisa Reponen, Kaspar Hollo, Mari-Liis Jaansalu, Merilin Säde).

At the international conference “Fiber-optic Road to Education” organised by the Innovation Centre of HITSA, the best e-course of 2016 of the Estonian e-Ülikool (e-University) consortium was announced. The title was awarded to UT’s MOOC “About programming”, which was created in the cooperation of many lecturers and students led by lecturer of the Institute of Computer Science Eno Tõnisson.

The use of e-learning at the University of Tartu

2013 2014 2015 2016partly and fully web-based courses

number of courses (opercentage of all courses)

1,580 (18%)

1,841 (22%)

2,049 (25%)

2,413 (30%)

incl. number of fully web-based courses 108 130 130 122number of participants 46,672 50,729 56,761 64,996

online learning environment Moodlenumber of courses 2,545 2,876 3,535 3,910number of users 27,537 26,594 32,306 39,812number of MOOCs - 2 6 10number of MOOC participants - 335 3,111 8,001

number of viceos in UTTV portal 2,838 4,045 4,260 5,166

90% of the students were in non- fee- paying student places. Studying in English-taught curricula in UT is generally for a fee, but more than 70% of master’s students got tuition-waiver scholarships in 2016.

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/oppijad

Students of Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies prepared as their coursework the MOOC “EU-Russia Relations: Between the Vilnius and Riga Eastern Partnership Summits”, which gained international popularity. This is the first online course fully developed and instructed by students.

Studying

The percentage of master’s and doctoral students in the university has increased, accounting for 39% of the university’s student body in 2016.

Support services for students• 3 student advisors,• 6 student mobility advisors,• 2 psychologists

(each with 0.5 workload),• 2 career counsellors,• 1 entrepreneurship counsellor,• 116 tutors,• 20 support students.

18

Entrepreneurship educationA2020 objective: enables students to develop their general and area-related business competencies

based on their needs and interests

In the academic year 2016/2017, 41% of the curricula, incl. 92% of professional higher education programmes included at least one entrepreneurship subject course. The percentage of successfully passed entrepreneurship studies accounted for 2.6% of the total volume of studies in 2015/2016. The university aims for each student to pass entrepreneurship courses for at least 6 ECTS during the first and second level of higher education. Traineeship courses made up 76% of the bachelor’s curricula and 88% of the master’s curricula in 2016/2017.

In 2016, the entrepreneurial programme “Edu ja Tegu”, led by the Ministry of Education and Research, was launched with an aim to promote entrepreneurship education at all levels of study and develop an enterprising mindset. The programme’s lead partners are the University of Tartu Ülikool and the Innove Foundation.

→ ettevotlusope.edu.ee

The University of Tartu Idea Lab has been created to advance the enterprising and innovative spirit of the students. Active students and pupils can work together to find innovative and practical solutions to exciting problems.

→ ideelabor.ut.ee

250 students and pupils worked together at the season’s opening event of Idea Lab “Idea Storm. 100 ideas that will change the world” to create novel ideas for the Idea Lab together with 22 inspiring entrepreneurs of the new generation. In the Idea Lab workshops, teams were formed to test the feasibility of the ideas with the support of workshop instructors and mentors.

In business and project ideas competition “Kaleidoskoop”, 15 teams of the 28 who took part in the preliminary round made it to the final. The winner was the team KONKU, whose web and mobile application provides rental ads without estate agent fees. The preliminary round in autumn brought together a record 42 teams. The first prizes went to Festera, who produces recycle bins that decompose biodegradable waste using special bacteria, and the UT IdeaLab’s STARTER programme graduate Triplecase who developed a practical three-zipper pencilcase.

Three UT Idea Lab teams – creators of KONKU student rental ad portal, developers of Need2Park parking management software and Hire Young web platform helping students enter the labour market – were chosen to develop their business ideas in the international programme “Network Globally, Act Locally”. Students of the University of Tartu, Charleston College and Nebraska Wesleyan University (USA) participate in the programme financed by Harry and Reba Huge Foundation. The first half of the programme was conducted in Tartu and the last week in the USA, where the young startups presented their ideas to leaders of the local enterprises.

Vega fund is a funding facility for research-intensive business projects created by the University of Tartu, which receives financial contributions from UT and the Harry and Reba Huge Foundation, different institutions and enterprises. Partners of the Vega fund are Enterprise Estonia and Swedbank. Renewed in 2016, the largest ever Vega fund finances business projects with up to 240,000 euros.

→ vega.ut.ee

Entrepreneurship lab E-Lab started operation in Narva College. The lab was opened by lecturer at Uppsala University Mikael Scherdin, using the entrepreneurship education method he developed at Uppsala University.

Opening event of Idea Lab “Idea Storm. 100 ideas that will change the world”

Finland 174 Germany 54 Spain 35France 20 Czech Republic 18

UT students studied abroad

Netherlands 16 Sweden 14 Italy 14 other 133

478

Germany 115 Italy 46 Czech Republic 42Russia 25Fance 25

international visiting students studied at UT

Latvia 23 Finland 17 other 209

546

1st level of higher education (240)master's studies (582)doctoral studies (158)

980international students

Number of international students by study levels in 2016

546 686980

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

+79%

Number of international students 2012–2016

6% 5% 7%

14%

HV147

SV286

MV133

LT414

Number and percentage of international students in faculties 2016

(key performance indicator)

19

8%international students

42% of all international students studied in the Faculty of Science and Technology, 29% in the Faculty of Social Sciences, 15% in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and 14% in the Faculty of Medicine.

The scope of the Erasmus+ programme has widened. In the academic year 2015/2016, Erasmus+ global learning mobility programme was launched with the aim of supporting student mobility between the universities of European and non-EU countries.

In 2016, the University of Tartu had 980 international students, which is 8% of the total number of students. Compared to 2015, the number of international students increased by 19%. Of all international students of the University of Tartu, 59% studied in master’s studies and 16% in doctoral studies. International students came from 88 countries.

Over the last five years, the percentage of international students has increased primarly in the Faculty of Science and Technology.

→ ut.ee/et/indikaatorid/valisuliopilaste-osakaal

In the academic year 2015/2016, the University of Tartu had 546 international visiting students. Within the Erasmus+ programme, a total of 334 exchange students studied at the University of Tartu (5% increase). Every third student in the Erasmus+ Programme came from one of our partner universities in Germany. Also Italian and Czech students were very interested in studying at the University of Tartu.

According to the data available to the university, 478 students of the University of Tartu went abroad as exchange students in the academic year 2015/2016, 249 of them did practical training abroad. Compared to the previous academic year, the number of increased 30%. 257 students, or 54%, studied and trained in foreign universities with the help of the EU Erasmus+ programme. The most popular destination countries were Germany (18%) or Spain (13%).

To ensure that students also pay attention to general knowledge and experience, not just the specialist knowledge acquired during studies/traineeship abroad, seminars are organised for students who are going abroad or have returned. The seminars help students to set targets, analyse their experience and apply it successfully in the labour market.

Counselling of international (visiting) students – At the beginning of each semester, an orientation course introducing Tartu and the university is offered, guidelines and information materials are available for international (visiting) students. Besides employees, also students help to support international (visiting) students. A new active group is the international student representatives of the University of Tartu – the student ambassadors. Student- to-student support service is provided by tutors and members of the Erasmus Student Network.

→ isa.ut.ee

International students and student exchangeA2020 objective: the university supports the academic mobility of students and employees

and values a diverse international and cultural learning and working environment

1st level of higher education (1,497)master's studies (1,254)doctoral studies (120)

2,871graduates

Number of graduates of the University of Tartu by study levels in 2016

3,038 2,907 2,871

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

‐5%

Number of graduates of the University of Tartu in 2012–2016

business, administration

and law535

social sciences, journalism and information

475

arts and humanities

444

natural sciences, 

mathematics and statistics

360

education343

health and welfare342

ICT177

services99

engi‐neering

96

1st level of higher education master's studies (incl. integrated studies) doctoral studies

Number of graduates of the University of Tartu by areas of study in 2016

17% 16%9%

21%

HV SV MV LT

Interruption rate in the first and second level of higher education in the University of

Tartu in 2016 (key performance indicator)

20

A total of 2,871 students graduated from the University of Tartu in 2016. Nearly half of them (48%) studied in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The number of cum laude graduates was 267.

Of 2015/2016 UT graduates of the first level of higher education, 53% continued in our master’s studies in 2016.

According to EHIS, the average interruption rate* in Estonian higher education institutions was 17% in 2016. In the University of Tartu, 2,172 students interrupted their studies in 2016. Interruption rate in the first level was 17%, in master’s studies 16% and doctoral studies 13%. 10% of those who interrupted the studies in 2016 restarted studies at the University of Tartu in 2016.* The share of students who interrupted their studies in the academic year 2015/2016 in the total student body of 2015.

Main reasons for interrupting studies in 2016:

• expiry of study period (36%);• interruption at student’s request

(39%);• insufficient academic progress

(15%).

The interruption rate was the highest in the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Graduation and interruption of studies

Using feedback

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/lopetanud

A2020 objective: in improving the quality of studies, the university proceeds from the principle of supporting the development of students for the benefit of society

Annual feedback survey conducted among the first-year students of the first level of higher education and master’s studies revealed that in choosing the university, applicants considered the quality of education (95–98% or respondents considered this very important), the selection of interesting curricula (93–96%) and the reputation of UT (87–89%). Master’s studies were usually taken up for self-development. Better job and career prospects were also considered important in getting a master’s degree.

After the first semester, the majority (92% in the first study level, 83% in master’s studies) agreed that studies at the University of Tartu had so far met their expectations. The survey revealed that 40% of first-year students of higher education and 67% of first-year master’s students worked during their studies. Compared to last year, the percentage of students working during their studies has increased slightly on the first level of higher education and remained the same in master’s studies.

A (excellent)46%

B (very good) 30%

C (good) 15%

D6%

E2%

F1%

UT students’ consolidated grade for courses in the academic year 2015/2016

Liina Lepp, SV, Institute of Education, Lecturer in Didactics

Marko Murruste, MV, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Lecturer in Surgery

21

Results of the feedback survey among first-year students of the first and second level of higher education in 2015 and 2016

statement 2015 2016studies at the UT meet my expectations 88% 90%after the first semester I would still apply to the UT 93% 95%

after the first semester I would still apply to the same curriculum 87% 88%

my preparation (earlier education) is sufficient to manage well with my university studies

86% 85%

At the end of each semester, students have the opportunity to give feedback to courses and the teaching skills of the teaching staff. When giving feedback, students analyse their experience, give feedback to the teaching staff, answer questions about the courses and can give recommendations to future students. A certain part of the results is accessible to all members of the university. Institutes and colleges are required to discuss the survey results once a semester and take measures to eliminate shortcomings.

In the academic year 2015/2016, the students completed 72,122 feedback questionnaires. In total, feedback was given to teaching staff who taught 2,729 subject courses. In the case of teaching-related statements, students agreed most with statements that the teacher’s attitude upon teaching was supportive of learning and open to students and that the study materials recommended were relevant in terms of substance and suitability (93% and 92%, respectively). There was somewhat less agreement with the statements that the teacher taught the course excellently (87%) and have sufficient feedback to the results of the student’s work (86%).

Summarising the aspects of teaching and course arrangements, students gave our courses the average grade 4.12, not much different from last year’s result (4.08).

Annual feedback surveys are also conducted among final-year students (excl. PhD students) with regard to the organisation of curricula, the study process, study environment, support services, and graduates’ future plans for education and employment. 92% of respondents agreed that they obtain the learning outcomes described in curriculum and adequate general skills (communication, teamwork, etc.)

Students generally also agree that the organisation of study favours learning and during studies they receive necessary information on time (87%).

In 2016, the award for improving the quality of teaching and financial award was given to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities for the reform in master’s studies and establishing master’s schools. Instead of former subject-based courses there are master’s school courses, which make better use of the competence of teaching staff, help to avoid duplication and promote cooperation between specialities.

Percentage of students who plan on going to work after graduation:

• on the first level 73%,• in master’s studies 86%.

Each year, based on student feedback, the University of Tartu gives out the best teaching staff award to acknowledge excellent teaching skills and recognise those who receive the highest scores in feedback surveys. In each faculty the award is given to one member of teaching staff who received the highest grade in the feedback survey of that academic year.

The state awarded the Lecturer of the Year title to UT lecturer Eno Tõnisson

Reet Alas, HV, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures,

Teacher of French Language

Recipients of the best teaching staff award of the University of Tartu in

2016

Ivo Leito, LT, Institute of Chemistry, Professor in Analytical Chemistry

27%

international studentsEstonian students

177doctoralstudents

Number of doctoral students admitted to the University of Tartu in 2016

41%23%

10%28%

HV SV MV LTNumber of international doctoral students by

faculties in 2016

74% 68%

33%

69%

HV SV MV LTPercentage of doctoral graduates in the

number of students admitted four years ago by faculties in 2016 (key performance indicator)

95

114

117

107

120

63

67

53

64

73

7

22

15

18

22

17

17

21

13

16

4

3

3

3

3

2

6

2

2

1

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

TU EULSUniversity of Tartu TUT EAMT EAA

Number of PhD graduates from public universities in 2012–2016. Source: EHIS

22

Aim of doctoral studies• acquisition of effective research

skills and techniques; • getting familiar with the

research environment;• acquisition and development

of personal efficiency and teamwork skills;

• development of communication skills;

• promotion of career.

PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT: the university creates at least 161 doctoral student places in 2016

In 2016, 177 doctoral students started their doctoral studies, six students more than in 2015.

In 2016, 239 doctoral theses were defended in Estonia. 120 doctoral students graduated from the University of Tartu, 12% more than in 2015.

Doctoral schoolsEuropean Union structural funds support the improvement of the competitiveness of Estonian public universities, incl. the improvement of the quality and effectiveness of doctoral studies from the activity “Institutional development programme for research and development institutions and higher education institutions”.

Relying on the universities’ earlier positive cooperation experience, some of the planned activities are implemented via doctoral schools established by the universities in cooperation. In total, there are 13 doctoral schools in Estonia, and the University of Tartu participates in eleven of them.

doctoral schools and the related universities UT TUT EULS TU EAA EAMT leading university

Graduate School in Biomedicine and Biotechnology x x x x UT

Estonian Doctoral School in Mathematics and Statistics x x x UT

Doctoral School in Civil and Environmental Engineering x x TUT

Doctoral School in Energy and Geotechnology x x TUT

Graduate School of Functional Materials and Technologies x x x UT

Doctoral School of Educational Sciences x x TU

Doctoral School of Information and Communication Technologies x x x TUT

Graduate School of Linguistics, Philosophy and Semiotics x x UT

Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine x x x UT

Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts x x x x TU

Doctoral School of Behavioural, Social and Health Sciences x x UT

Doctoral School of Earth Sciences and Ecology x x x x UT

Doctoral School in Economics and Innovation x x x x UT

→ ut.ee/et/oppimine/doktoriope/doktorikoolid

Doctoral studies

7.1 7.8 7.3 6.2

6.1 3.2

16.9

6.1

9.95.5

1.8

37.023.116.6

26.0

49.4

2013 2014 2015 2016

EU Structural Funds

foreign funding

national R&D contracts(excl. EU Structural Funds)

The value (in million euros) of R&D contracts on the basis of concluded contracts (excl. national

financing) in 2013–2016

23

RESEARCHFinancing

A2020 objective: in the conditions of the rapid development of research and technology and global competition, the university preserves and strengthens its position on the international research and education landscape

The volume of personal research funding in Estonia was 8.7 million euros, of which funding to UT researchers was nearly 5.2 million euros. 30 new personal research funding applications were successful in 2016 (total amount 1.6 million euros). UT’s success rate in all new Estonian R&D projects was 56%.

Research and development contracts (except public financing) with Estonian and international partners were made in 2016 for 49.3 million euros, which is 23.3 million euros more than in 2015. The increase came on account of structural funds. Major agreements were financed with the support for centres or excellence measure (the total amount received by the University of Tartu is nearly 19 million euros).

A2020 objective: the university inspires businesses to more actively use the research infrastructure of the university and the knowledge and skills of academic staff

The university’s partners of measuring, analysis, training or consultation services and the value and number of the R&D contracts with businesses supported from various financing schemes in 2016

value of contract (in euros)

number of contracts

NGOs, foundations and public institutions 309,937 16

state institutions, ministries, local governments 1,971,336 59

business associations 2,169,249 53

participation in financing schemes with businesses 3,342,831 11

total 7,793,353 139

The innovation and development shares measure and the measure for applied research in smart specialisation areas, launched at the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016, have significantly enlivened cooperation between businesses and the university. In 2016, the University of Tartu made 46 R&D agreements with Estonian companies (in total for more than 1.5 million euros), the above support measures were used in half of them.

The university also cooperates with companies at the international level. Contracts with foreign companies were signed in the value of 645,000 euros, accounting for nearly 30% of all contracts with businesses.

In 2016, Estonian R&D institutions were financed from major national financing programmes in the amount of 47 million euros, nearly 53% of it was allocated to UT.

Research funding allocated to Estonian R&D institutions from major national financing programmes for 2016 (in millions of euros)

R&D institution 2012 2016 change

UT 19.8 25.0 5.1TUT 8.6 9.3 0.8TU 2.1 2.4 0.3EULS 2,7 3.0 0.3other 5.4 7.6 2.2total 38.6 47.3 8.7

The importance of the amount of base funding allocated from the state budget has grown. In 2016, 6.1 million euros were allocated to the university as base funding.

In 2016, the total financial volume of institutional research funding for research themes in Estonia was 22.5 million euros. As there was no call for new applications, the number of themes remained the same. In 2016, institutional funding was granted to 76 themes of the UT in the amount of 12.6 million euros. Also the last target-financing research themes were completed in 2016; in UT there were seven of these last year.

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/teadus

4.5 million euros was the value of contracts signed by UT in 2016 for providing measuring, analysis, consultation or R&D services

UT leads three centres of excellence:

• “Advanced materials and High- Technology Devices for Sustainable Energetics, Sensorics and Nano- electronics”, led by Prof. Enn Lust;

• Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, led by Prof. Andres Metspalu;

• Centre of Excellence in Molecular Cell Engineering, led by Prof. Tanel Tenson.

As a partner, the UT participates in six centres of excellence:

• “Zero Energy and Resource Efficient Buildings and Districts”;

• Centre of excellence in IT (EXCITE);• Centre of excellence „Ecology of

global change: natural and managed ecosystems”;

• Centre of excellence “Dark Side of the Universe”;

• Centre of excellence “Emerging orders in Quantum and Nanomaterials”;

• Centre of excellence in Estonian Studies.

Source: MoER

24

Cooperation with companiesA2020 objective: the university increases the interest in and awareness of innovation and science among Estonian

residents and businesses through various forms of cooperation

In cooperation with regional development centres, the university organised four seminars in Tartu, Rakvere and Jõgeva in the seminar series “Out of the Lab”. At the seminars, entrepreneurs could ask researchers for solutions to questions concerning specific development works and problems in the company’s operation.

In 2016, UT launched a partnership programme for large companies and organisations, to encourage them to make more use of the knowledge and skills of the university’s staff and students, (research) infrastructure, and formal and continuing education opportunities. Partners can have a say in developing the university’s curricula, be involved in teaching and take state-of-the-art technology and knowledge to their company. This increases the partners’ and society’s awareness of the role of research-intensive entrepreneurship in the development of economy and the society.

Members of the partnership programme include, e.g., Eesti Energia, Swedbank, Telia Eesti, Police and Border Guard Board and Estonian Defence Industry Association. In the course of the programme, meetings with researchers are organised and a newsletter is issued.

→ ut.ee/et/partnerlusprogramm

The University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology lead the network of Estonian universities ADAPTER which aims to provide a quick and easy link for companies and research and development institutions.

ADAPTER enables companies and all others to:

• ask for advice from all the universities at a time; • find a development partner to enhance their capability;• find a contractor for an innovation or development

share or NUTISPETS project; • see what services are provided by the universities;• learn about financing mechanisms to support the

cooperation of companies and R&D institutions.

The Adapter portal was opened in autumn 2016. By the end of 2016, 50 enquiries had been sent to Adapter, and UT provided a solution to 30 of them.

→ adapter.ee

In cooperation with the city of Tartu and local organisations supporting entrepreneurship, the UT organised Estonia’s largest international business festival sTARTUp Day 2016 in December, with nearly 3,000 students, entrepreneurs and other participants.

Led by UT, the six public universities organised the second cooperation festival “Right time, right place”, with more than 600 people from enterprises, universities and public sector organisations. At the festival, researchers introduced their ideas and cooperation opportunities for enhancing the competitiveness or supporting the development of a company or organisation in the form of a 3-minute “elevator speech”.

By the end of 2016, a total of 57 spin-off companies had been founded in which UT staff and students are involved and which use the UT’s intellectual capital or infrastructure in their activities. Effective research, strong cooperation culture resulting from the partnership programme and positive feedback from the business sector have contributed to the emergence of spin-offs. All in all, spin-offs employed more than 350 people and their combined profit in 2016 was nearly 1.8 million euros.

In 2016, UT researchers announced six objects of intellectual property, whose readiness for application in practice and commercialisation potential was analysed.Two patents were issued to the university on the basis of

applications submitted in the previous years and one new license agreement was signed. The direct income from the commercialisation of the university’s intellectual property was nearly 64,700 euros.

Patents and patent applicationsA2020 objective: the university contributes to the creation and growth of knowledge-based businesses and innovation

Vice Rector for Development Erik Puura introducing UT’s coope-ration with companies to Swedish Chamber of Commerce

25

A2020 objective: the university actively participates in developing and implementing policies required for the development of health care in Estonia

UT Estonian Genome Centre has created the Estonian biobank, with which nearly 5% of the Estonian adult population have voluntarily joined. The biobank includes the tissue samples and data of 52,458 gene donors, incl. 15,000 gene chip analyses. In 2016 the genotyping of gene donor samples continued. The Genome Centre’s database was also supplemented with information from other databases like the population register, cancer registry and register of causes of death.

The Centre of Translational Genomics, who received a 3.5 million euro grant in 2011 for five years from the development fund, made an overview of the project results in 2016. Created on the basis gene donors’ blood samples, the new type of database helps to develop personalised medicine both in and outside Estonia. Conditions have been created for opening an international centre attracting medics, geneticists, computer scientists and social scientists.

As a joint project of the Genome Centre and the board of editors of educational and research programmes of the Estonian Public Broadcasting, a three-part programme “Science Fever. Dance around DNA” was aired. A part of the programmes will be used as study material in Estonian schools.

A2020 objective: the university manages the creation and transfer of knowledge required for a more efficient use of user-friendly and secure information and communication technology, health technology, and resources,

and for the development of other forms of technology

Researchers of UT and TUT with international partners received a 5.28 million euro EU grant to the project GRACE. The aim of the project is to develop a strategic expert system for oil spill and a tool for decision making in arctic conditions and ice-infested areas.

In autumn 2016, the city of Tartu, University of Tartu and Telia Eesti AS signed a cooperation memorandum with the aim to continue cooperation for building a better and more innovative living environment in Tartu. Together they contribute to the international cooperation project SmartEnCity. The activities that are planned together are, for example, development of the smart city model, creating an integrated infrastructure in Tartu, development of smart home solutions, analysis and use of big data for cooperation projects, etc.

Telia Eesti AS and UT Institute of Computer Science signed a cooperation agreement to promote new business ideas relying on research and development in the area of internet of things. In March, the university in cooperation with Telia opened an internet of things lab, which is unique in the Baltics, and consists of a smart home and smart office environment.

The University of Tartu with 15 partners participates in the Baltic cooperation project “Baltic TRAM”, which opens up access for Estonian entrepreneurs to research infrastructure in the Baltic region that in Estonia is either missing or not sufficient to realise the companies’ total development potential.

→ baltic-tram.eu

In 2016, based on the order of Ministry of Education and Research, the UT Centre for Applied Social Sciences CASS prepared satisfaction questionnaires for all education-related target groups from basic to adult continuing education. The questionnaires are tested in 2016 and 2017 and will be fully taken into use in 2018.

Laboratory assistant Martin Tootsi in the Genome Centre’s biorepository

The University of Tartu Rector Volli Kalm and Chairman of the Board of Swedbank Eesti Robert Kitt signed a framework agreement which lays down the goals for long-term coopera-tion in the area of economics, IT and mathematics.

Research publications by UT members, incl. the number of high-level research publications in 2012–2016. Source: ETIS

2,744 2,879 2,870 2,644 2,6761,810 1,957 1,958 1,857 1,909

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

number of publicationsincl. number of high‐level publications

Number of high-level publications per academic staff member in UT faculties

in 2016 (key performance indicator)

1.3 1.1 1.11.7

HV SV MV LT

26

According to the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS), UT members published 2,676 research publications in 2016 and 1,909 of these were high-level publications, incl. 1,358 ETIS category 1.1 publications.

The average number of high-level publications published per academic staff member (FTE) was 1.3.

In the world’s leading research information database Web of Science Core Collection, 1,294 publications related to the University of Tartu were indexed in 2016, which have already been cited 1,351 times. Most of these were in the field of ecology, technology and physics. The Scopus database includes 1,116 UT-related publications, cited 1,267 times. Most were in the field of medicine, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and social sciences. In both databases the h-index of the UT’s publications in 2016 was 12.

According to ESI (Essential Science Indicators), which is standardised by fields of study but does not include the humanities and focuses only on the 1% of the world’s most successful publications, the University of Tartu continues to be the most successful research and development institution in Estonia by the number of publications and citations, in the majority of research fields in ESI.

Field division of fractionated publications by authors from Estonia and the UT among the 1% of most cited publications in the Web of Science database in 2006–2016

molecular biology and

genetics

environ- mental

science and ecolog

plant and

animal sciences

clinical medicine chemistry

biology and bio-

chemistry

neuro- and

behavioral science

psychiatry and

psychology

general social

sciencesall fields

total number of Estonian publications 657 1,194 1,519 1,403 1,380 680 426 414 1,279 15,182

percentage of UT publications 81% 59% 57% 65% 61% 63% 84% 76% 62% 56%

total number of UT publications 535 702 866 915 845 430 362 316 789 8,543

division of UT publications by field of study

6% 8% 10% 11% 10% 5% 4% 4% 9%

Most cited fields of research at the University of Tartu as of January 2017 (according to Essential Science Indicators)

field publications citations citation index

clinical medicine 915 12,730 13.9plant and animal sciences 866 13,725 15.9chemistry 845 10,332 12.2

general social sciences 789 3,363 4.3environmental science and ecology 702 15,388 21.9molecular biology and genetics 535 53,518 44.0biology and biochemistry 430 8,266 19.2neuro- and behavioral science 362 5,774 16.0psychiatry and psychology 316 4,362 13.8all fields 8,543 124,427 14.6

Publications

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/teadus

1,554 1,593 1,633 1,752 1,587

33,730 31,219 32,46437,160

44,799

0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

number of courses number of participants

UT continuing education courses and number of participants in 2012–2016 (key performance indicator)

SV17,059

support units9,437

LT5,868

institutions5,182

HV4,018

MV3,235

Number of participants in UT continuing education courses by structural units that organised courses in 2016

less than 100100–500500–10001,000–5,0005,000–10,000more than 10,000

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

Ida‐Virumaa

4,386

Lääne‐Virumaa

283

Harjumaa6,011

Jõgevamaa

270

Järvamaa

339Raplamaa

176

Tartumaa14,383

Põlvamaa171Valgamaa

358

Viljandimaa1,309

Pärnumaa3,431

Läänemaa129

Saaremaa685

Hiiumaa

14

Võrumaa219

Participation in UT continuing education courses by counties in 2016 (excl. abroad, online and distance courses)

27

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETYContinuing education

A2020 objective: the university provides various target groups with flexible learning opportunities in both degree studies and continuing education

Courses were ordered from the university in 2016 by educational institutions, governmental agencies and institutions, public entities, professional associations, and companies, e.g. Tax and Customs Board, Estonian Health Insurance Fund, Police and Border Guard Board, Defence League, Information System Authority, Prosecutor’s Office, Financial Supervision Office, National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Red Cross, Chamber of Bailiffs and Trustees in Bankruptcy, Chamber of Notaries, Estonian Newspaper Association, Ensto Ensek AS, Eesti Meedia AS, Finnair, Swedbank etc.

In total, 61 courses with 5,249 participants took place in UT University for Senior Citizens in 2016. In Tallinn, courses were conducted both in Estonian and in Russian. In Tallinn and Tartu, the University for Senior Citizens also offered English, German and Finnish language courses, in Pärnu study tours and workshops were organised.

In 2016, 44,799 learners participated in the continuing education courses of the University of Tartu

There were 48 international continuing education courses with 2,952 participants (incl. eight MOOCs). 15 such programmes were made to order (296 registered participants) for UT’s partner universities and institutions from the USA, Japan and Denmark. International Summer University continued its operation.

A2020 objective: the university contributes to the designing of Estonian regional policy by strengthening the colleges in Viljandi, Narva and Pärnu as centres of regional development and cooperation

Continuing education certificates are now also issued electronically, with the digital seal of UT. The procedure for issuing continuing education certificates has changed. If during the course the acquisition of learning outcomes was assessed and the learner obtained all the prescribed learning outcomes, a certificate is issued to the learner. If there was no assessment or the learner did not acquire all learning outcomes, a document certifying the completion of the course is issued.

In accordance with the aim of the strategic plan, continuing education was successfully provided outside Tartu as well. Apart from Tartu County, the counties of Harju, Ida-Viru, Pärnu and Viljandi stood out with the highest participation rate. In these regions, the university has a college or an office.

The importance of e-learning courses in continuing education increased. 374 programmes (27% of all continuing education courses) were either partly or fully online or distance courses, with 16,452 participants (37% of all participants in continuing education courses).

Compared to 2015, the number of courses decreased 9%, but the number of participants increased by 21%. Income from continuing education increased 9% in a year, exceeding 4.7 million euros.

UT55%

EULS7%

otherHEs11%

other27%

Distribution of the Library users by universities in 2016

28

In autumn 2016, the library started to use a new techno-logy-based borrowing and returning system, for which security elements were inserted in nearly 220,000 books. The new technology allows to detect the movement of a book from a distance, get rid of narrow security gates, make an inventory without removing books from the shelves and easily locate misplaced books.

The University of Tartu Museum provided services to 79,559 visitors in 2016. In the museum’s educational programmes an all-time record of 10,290 pupils participated, although the historic cathedral was closed for renovation for the first four months of the year.

After the renovation, the annual exhibition “Measuring the World” was opened, also the UT Treasury and the exciting Crazy Scientist’s office with new attractive hands-on exhibits and environments were reopened.

UT’s historical architectural ensemble was awarded the European Heritage Label. The historic buildings with parks and collections embody the idea of a university of the Enlightenment and reflect the traditions of European education, as well as represent one of the best-preserved university complexes of that period in Europe.

UT Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden offered exhibitions and educational services to 180,255 people in 2016. There were 670 study programmes with 11,735 participants, nearly twice as many as last year.

In 2016, the new permanent exhibition of the Natural History Museum “Earth. Life. Story” was opened, which attracted 59,681 visitors. The new exhibition won the approval of visitors and the recognition of experts, incl.:

• Universal design award of the Estonian Union of People with Mobility Impairment;

• Estonian science communication 2nd prize “Best new science and technology communication initiative;

• Annual award of the Estonian Association of Interior Architects “Best museum/exhibition”.

The museum’s and Botanical Garden’s geological, zoological, botanical and mycological collections underwent the regular evaluation of research collections in 2016.

Sharing knowledgeA2020 objective: the university intensifies cooperation with schools to generate scientific interest in pupils

and to involve talented pupils in research

By the end of 2016, UT Library had 54,648 registered users. Students made up 67% of the total number of readers. In summer 2016, long-term reconstruction works started in the library, so the library was closed since July.

From January to June, 111,573 visits were made to the main building of the library and during the year, 16,722,040 online visits. By the end of 2016, access to 121 online databases had been created via the library.

In 2015/2016, 1,866 pupils participated in the 42 courses of the UT Youth Academy. As many as 1,196 learners received a certificate for full completion of the course. In 2016/2017, 1,776 pupils started studies in 38 courses. In addition, 1,020 students participate in the programme of chemistry, biology and physics workshops.

Youth Academy coordinated the visits of 21 schools to UT and sent UT teaching and research staff to give lectures in schools on 120 occasions.

In 2016, the EU Science Olympiad was held in Tartu, and as a follow-up, Youth Academy develops and organises

a practical study course integrating natural and exact sciences, incl. e-courses supporting experimental study for basic school and gymnasium students. In addition to Olympiads, Youth Academy organised competitions in mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics (in total 893 participants).

→ teaduskool.ut.ee

A2020 objectives: the university supports the development of memory institutions of the university and the research and preservation of national cultural assets and heritage

→ instagram.com/tartuuniversity

→ utlib.ut.ee

→ natmuseum.ut.ee → botaanikaaed.ut.ee

→ muuseum.ut.ee

In the Golden Apple 2016 competition organised by Archimedes Foundation, UT researchers won the first prize for the best smart solution in education for creating the UT science-promoting Instagram account.

During the Researchers’ Night Festival, children crafted objects inspired by Ancient Egypt and pyramids in the UT Art Museum

29

Feedback from societyNational research awards are issued by the Government to Estonian researchers and research groups for outstanding research work in eight fields of research.

Research award for long-term research and development achievements was given to mechanics researcher, Professor Emeritus Ülo Lepik of UT Faculty of Science and Technology.

In medicine, Professor in Pathophysiology Sulev Kõks and Professor in Dermatology and Venereology Külli Kingo received the awards. In their works, introduction of modern genetic methods is combined with application of research results in clinical practice.

The award in geology and biology was given to the Chair of Plant Ecology research group, which includes head of the group, Professor of Plant Ecology, Academician Martin Zobel, Research Fellow in Ecology John Davison, Senior Research Fellows in Plant Ecology Mari Moora and Maarja Öpik. The research group was recognised for their work on factors affecting the diversity and mutual interactions of plant and fungal communities, which observed aspects that have never been dealt with by the so-called classical ecology of plant communities.

In agricultural science, Associate Professor in Applied Ecology Arne Sellin was awarded. His research reveals the previously unknown impacts of climate change on our forests, trees’ water exchange, growth and the condition of forest ecosystems.

Professor of Estonian Contemporary History, Academician Tõnu Tannberg was recognised in the humanities. His military history research, based on his work in the archives of Russia and Estonia, cover two important periods for Estonia: the turn of the 19th century and the First World War.

In December, the Estonian Academy of Sciences elected three new academicians, two of whom are academic staff members of the University of Tartu.

Professor of Cardiology Jaan Eha has studied the causes and possible treatment of myocardial infarction, and raised a new generation of Estonian cardiologists.

Jaan Eha was also awarded the title Honorary Citizen of Tartu in 2016.

Sulev Kõks

Martin Zobel

Mari Moora

Arne Sellin

Jaan Eha

Ülo Lepik

Külli Kingo

John Davison

Maarja Öpik

Tõnu Tannberg

30

Also Anu Raud, long-term lecturer of the Estonian Academy of Arts and Viljandi Culture Academy, who has studied Estonian folk art heritage all her life and used the obtained knowledge in her work as a teacher, tapestry artist, author, founder of a museum and farmer, was elected an academician.

The Estonian Academy of Sciences elected three new research professors for the next three years. One of the nominated research professors is from UT Institute of Physics, Lead Research Fellow of Materials Science Kaupo Kukli.

Before the 98th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves awarded decorations for services rendered to Estonia to 99 people, including four UT-related persons.

Order of Merit of the White Star, III class was awarded to Professor of Electron Spectroscopy, Academician Ergo Nõmmiste. His research in the UT Institute of Physics may result in the creation of new super cells and nano-materials in the near future.

Order of Merit of the White Star, IV class was given to Professor of Personality and Social Psychology Anu Realo, researcher of fish populations of the Baltic Sea Toomas Saat and Professor of Liberal Arts, poetess and author Kristiina Ehin.

In the 2016 Estonian National Contest for University Students, 49 UT students were recognised. The first prize was awarded to Mari Tõrv for her doctoral thesis on the mortuary practices and primary identities of Neolithic hunters-gatherers in Estonia.

In 2016, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves awarded two Young Scientist Awards. The prize was given to UT mycologist Leho Tedersoo and media and communication researcher Andra Siibak.

The title Woman Researcher of the Year, issued for the first time by the Estonian Association of University Women, was granted to Külli Kingo, Professor in Dermatology and Venereology. Research Fellow of the Chair of Bioinformatics Triinu Kõressaar received the title of Young Woman Researcher.

Anu Raud

Anu Realo

Kristina Ehin

Ergo Nõmmiste

Toomas Saat

Mari Tõrv Leho Tedersoo

Andra Siibak

Kaupo Kukli

Triinu Kõressaar

31

The European Academy of Humanities, Letters, and Sciences Academia Europea elected UT Professor of Literary Theory Marina Grišakova, Professor of Contemporary Estonian Language Helle Metslang and Professor of Comparative Literature Jüri Talvet members of Academia Europea, recognising their international research work and significant contribution to European science.

On Gustavus Adolphus Day and anniversary of founding of the University of Tartu, the ambassador of Sweden to Estonia, following the decision of His Majesty Carl XVI Gustav, gave the 1st class Order of the Polar Star to UT teacher of Swedish Tiina Mullamaa.

Professor emeritus at the UT Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies Rein Taagepera received the prestigious Karl Deutsch Award from the International Political Science Association (IPSA).

In 2016, the University of Tartu award for contribution to Estonian national identity was granted to Andres Sööt, film director and cinematographer, who has awakened and perpetuated the historical and cultural memory of Estonians and recorded Estonian architecture and art. Evaluating Andres Sööt’s major creative contribution, the award committee highly appreciated the visual qualities and consistency of his long-term creative work.

The University of Tartu is the only classical university in Estonia and is both an international research university as well as the Estonian national university. The responsibility of the UT as a national university is to advance disciplines that investigate Estonia and its people, to promote Estonian-language education and to preserve the national cultural heritage in possession of the UT to preserve and develop the Estonian culture and language.

In 2012, ten national sciences professorships were established at the UT to perform this task. In 2016, a targeted evaluation of professorships in research areas of national significance was conducted. The evaluation report confirmed that research in history and archaeology, cultural studies and philology and linguistics in the ten government-supported professorships is on a high level, activity support has contributed to increasing the number of young researchers and linking the national sciences and the society.

A2020 objective: the university ensures the competitive level of the development of national sciences

Rein Taagepera

Marina Grišakova

Tiina MullamaaJüri Talvet

Andres Sööt

Helle Metslang

In 2016, the position of Visiting Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Tartu was taken up by writer and semiotician Valdur Mikita, who is one of the most unique authors and essayists in modern Estonian literature.

professor194

associateprofessor

211

lector, senior assistant

376

assistant, teacher226

senior/lead research fellow

299

research fellow428

junior research fellow95

womenmen

Gender ratio of academic employees by positions in 2016

Number of academic and support staff members (FTE) and their division by faculties

in 2016

support staff

350(43%)

165(20%)

118(14%)

189(23%)

HV

SV

MV

LT

academic staff

582(42%)

266(19%)

279(20%)

260(19%)

HV

SV

MV

LT

1,646 1,423

2012 2016

‐14%

Number of support staff members (FTE) in 2012 and 2016

3,161 3,080 2,825

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

‐11%

Number of employees (FTE) of the University of Tartu in 2012–2016

Number of employees (FTA) of the University of Tartu in 2016

50%

academic (1402)non‐academic (1423)

2,825employees

(FTE)

819 1,008 1,718

research staff teaching staff otherNumber of academic and support staff members in the University of Tartu in 2016

8%

international staff (140)

1,763academic employees

Share of international teaching and research staff in all academic staff in 2016

32

There were 1,216 academic staff members with a PhD at UT. The requirement to have a PhD or a corresponding qualification applies to professors, associate professors, lead research fellows and senior research fellows in the university, and will also be extended to lecturers as of 2018.

In 2016, 31 professors were elected, eight of whom assumed the position for the first time. Ten of the professors elected in 2016 are women. At the end of 2016, the UT had 194 professors, incl. 44 women (23%).

58% of non-academic employees were working in faculties and colleges, 26% in the support structure and 16% in other UT institutions.

→ ut.ee/et/statistika/personal

1,763 persons worked in academic positions (50% of the staff).

ORGANISATIONEmployees

140 of them held an academic position. International teaching and research staff members made up nearly 8% of the total UT academic staff. The largest number of them (42 persons) worked as research fellows. 17 foreigners were employed as professors (9% of all professors).

175 foreign nationals from 41 countries worked in the University of Tartu

3,447 people worked for the university at the end of 2016

69% the academic staff holds

a PhD degree

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

professor associate professor

lecturer,senior

assistant

assistant,teacher

seniorresearchfellow

researchfellow

juniorresearchfellow

non‐academic staff

university average HV SV MV LT

Average salary of UT employees in 2016 (euros) by positions and faculties

33

Average gross monthly salary increased by 4.4% in a year. In 2016, the gross salary rise was the quickest among support staff (5.8%), followed by teaching staff (3.9%) and research staff (2.7%). By positions of academic staff, the salary increase was the largest for assistants and teachers (8.3%), lecturers (6.5%) and associate professors (5,3%). In academic positions, women’s salary was 3–8% lower than men’s; the gender pay gap has decreased compared to 2015.

1,467 euros was the average gross monthly salary of UT employees

A2020 objective: the university supports the constant improvement of specialised and professional knowledge and skills of employees, including the development of the managerial skills of managers

As of September 2016, the Centre for Professional Development operates in the University of Tartu, aiming to support the employees’ professional development.

In 2016, 303 current or future leaders participated in 32 training courses for development of professional leadership. Since 2014, the number of management trainings and participants has increased steadily. When organizing the training courses, employees’ feedback, important topics raised by the leaders and objectives of the Strategic Plan have been taken into account.

At the forefront are psychological management topics like work relations, conflict management, conducting difficult conversations and development appraisals, but also

developing financial management skills.

In 2016, 41 university employees, incl. 30 managers participated in the mentorship and coaching programme designed to advance professional leadership. In 2016, 16 employees completed the coach training programme and can be mentors or coaches to other employees in future. In addition, co-vision groups of leaders and developers were launched with 15 participants (incl. eight leaders).

109 academic employees participated in in-service training programmes for academic English (teaching in English, academic communication, writing research articles etc.).

University employees actively used the Erasmus+ staff training and academic staff mobility programmes. In 2016, 55 faculty members held lectures and 81 participated in trainings in universities abroad. Most of all, they went to Germany, Finland, France and Sweden.

Training courses for employees

A2020 objective: the university values the high-level Estonian language skills of its employees and students and supports foreign employees and students upon studying Estonian language and cultural history

In 2016, nine events for international staff and their family members were organised (guided trips to introduce Estonian culture, sports day, tours and trips), which had 128 participants.

41 international staff members and 14 family members used the opportunity to learn the Estonian language and to learn more about Estonian culture.

Traditional welcome seminars for new international staff members took place at the beginning of the autumn and spring semester, introducing the structure, organisation of work and academic practice in the University of Tartu. The autumn seminar was followed by the rector’s reception in the UT Art Museum.

Dorpater Dozentenabend, the series of monthly club meetings, offered international research and teaching staff members an opportunity to communicate and exchange thoughts and ideas.

A2020 objective: the university plays an important role in transforming Tartu into an international learning, working and living environment

In 2015, a new series of seminars “Tartu—Rich in Culture” was launched for university members and townspeople, where international staff and students introduce the culture, nature and customs of their country. In the culture evenings in 2016, the culture of Latvia, Pakistan, Georgia, Estonia and Hungary was introduced. 394 people participated in the events.

Pakistani culture evening in Tartu

34

To improve the work environment, management, work of support units and availability of services, the university organises annual surveys on the work environment and work of support units since 2011. In 2016, the number of respondents to the survey was record high: 41% of all UT employees.

Above all, the university members are satisfied that their job is interesting – 98.7% of respondents said so. Also, they were proud to work for the University of Tartu (93.7% of respondents). Even the structural reform, implemented at the beginning of the year, did not affect the employees’ satisfaction with their work environment. The survey

also refers to areas that need development. Most often, employees are dissatisfied with their salary – every third UT employee (34.4%) considered their salary unfair. Every fifth employee thought they did not receive enough feedback about their work (20.3%), their good work was not noticed (21.6%) and work did not allow enough time for personal life (22.5%).

Responses to governance questions show, however, that governance has slightly improved in the university over the years. Satisfaction with the work of support units continues to be very high.

For the first time, the job satisfaction surveys were conducted on a platform programmed by the UT Information Technology Office.

Work environment

Staff satisfaction with the work of the support units (share of respondents who strongly, generally or slightly agreed with the statement)

2013 2014 2015 2016appropriateness of communication 95.6% 93.0% 96.2% 94.8%availability of services 93.5% 93.9% 95.2% 93.5%adherence to agreements 90.8% 93.8% 96.3% 94.6%obtaining solution to problem 89.9% 92.2% 92.5% 92.5%proceeding from university’s objectives 85.2% 85.7% 91.5% 91.9%competence of initiatives 84.2% 85.6% 89.6% 85.6%overall satisfaction with work of units 90.9% 90.1% 92.4% 92.9%

94.2% employees are satisfied with work in the university

A2020 objective: the university supports the development of the teaching and instructing skills of academic staff and the learning skills of students

The University of Tartu supports the development of teaching and supervision skills with training and through communities of practice of collegial feedback. Collegial feedback communities discuss various teaching-related activities, for example assessment, involvement of students, feedback, preparation of teaching materials etc. Reciprocal observation of teaching and its analysis have an important role in the process.

In the spring semester of 2016, there were nine communities of practice (118 participants) at the university, and seven in the autumn semester (85 participants). In addition, the awardees of the UT good teaching grant held meetings all through the year.

More than 100 teaching staff members successfully completed continuing education courses for the development of teaching skills (e-learning, problem-based learning, supervision of students, active learning methods, assessment and feedback, creating a course in the Moodle environment, etc.). 37 lecturers completed the base training course for lecturers “Learning and Teaching in Higher Education”.

In 2016 the focus was on the training of supervisors of student papers. In August, a summer academy for master’s thesis supervisors (taught by Olga Dysthe and Gry Heggli from the University of Oslo) was held and in October, a course for supervisors of student papers started in cooperation with the Institute of Education, lasting until April 2017.

In 2016, UT teaching staff members were able for the second time to apply for good teaching grants. Three teaching staff members were elected from each faculty, to conduct research on their teaching and introduce the results. The community of recipients of the grant meets to discuss research topics, methods and results.

In 2016, the senate approved the good practice of teaching of the university. Input for these principles were ideas gathered from the communities of practice and discussions in different institutes, which were elaborated and supplemented at the conference “From lecturer to lecturer 2016: best practice in teaching”, where more than 200 teaching staff members participated.

The good practice of teaching expresses the lecturers’ common understanding that excellent teaching is learning-centred and based on science and cooperation, leads to self-analysis, supports the learner’s development and inspires creativity and entrepreneurship.

4 January

23 February

25 February

1 May

24 May

29 August

27 September

22 September

1 December

17 November

35

Events for university employees

Rector’s New Year’s reception for UT employees in the AHHAA science centre

Ceremony and concert dedicated to the 98th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in the assembly hall. UT awards ceremony

Winter sports day of UT employees and their family members in Kääriku Sports Centre

Family event “Crazy Scientist returns from a trip!”

Rector’s appreciation event for retired employees

Opening ceremony of the academic year

UT Memorial Day in Raadi cemetery

Academic Heritage Day for university staff Celebration of the 97th anniversary of the national university

Rector’s reception for international staff

29 January

10 March

15–16 April

11 May

27 April

26 May

June–August

8 September

7–8 September

17–18 April

20–26 March 4–11 April

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International cooperation

In March and April in the course of the Prime Minister’s state visits, Rector Volli Kalm visited universities in the USA and Japan.

Rector Professor Jukka Kola and the delega-tion of the University of Helsinki visited the

University of Tartu and the SMEAR research station at Järvselja, opened in the framework

of the Estonian research roadmap object “Estonian Environmental Observatory”.

Administration of the University of Turku and representatives of the university foundation,

led by Rector Professor Kalervo Väänänen, visited the University of Tartu. Ideas for

renewal of Estonian higher education and research were introduced to the guests.

A total of 369 students from 48 countries participated in the programmes and courses

of UT International Summer University.

UT Asian Centre was opened, which brings together Asian expertise, shares its experience and uses contacts of international cooperation networks to help the private and the public sector in Asian issues.

Coordinators of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) space science and robotic explorations

Professor Alvaro Giménez Cañete and Dr Fabio Favata visited the university to discuss the future of Europe’s new space

missions.

Diplomatic representatives of several foreign countries attended the opening event of

the UT College of Foreign Languages and Cultures. The Ambassador of Spain H.E. Mr. Fernando García Casas signed cooperation

memorandum between the university and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain.

During the Lithuanian Days, the Ambassador of Lithuania H.E. Mr. Neilas Tankevičius opened the photo exhibition “To Freedom. 1988–1991” by Vytautas Daraškevičius.

During his official visit to Estonia, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State gave

a public lecture in the assembly hall of the university “The diplomatic activity of the Holy See at the service of peace”. The visit marked the 25th anniversary of reinstating the diplo-

matic relations between Estonia and the Holy See.

Ambassador of Georgia H.E. Tea Akhvlediani visited the university and opened an exhibi-tion introducing the Georgian alphabet in the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures during the Georgian Days 26–28 May.

UT delegation led by the rector visited Vilnius University, where the University of Tartu day was held with meetings and public lectures in faculties. On the same day, also the traditional meeting of the rectors of the three leading universities of the Baltic countries – universities of Vilnius, Tartu and Latvia – took place.

21 September

28–29 September

5–7 October

18 October

27 October

29 October – 3 November

21–22 November

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DelegationsDuring the year 2016, official delegations of the universities of Uppsala, Turku, Kanagawa, Lviv, Pskov, Hanoi Medical Universiry and University of Shanghai for Science and Technology visited UT.

AmbassadorsIn 2016, the ambassadors of Spain, Iran, USA, Lithuania, Germany, Japan, Georgia, Turkey, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Korea, France and Taiwan paid their traditional visit to UT.

Cooperation agreementsIn 2016, UT considerably expanded its cooperation, signing a bilateral cooperation agreement with six universities:

• Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, • Gakushuin University in Japan, • Kanagawa University in Japan, • Beijing International University of Studies in China, • University of Technology, Malaysia, • Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Granö lectures

The lecture series named after J. G. Granö, titled “Finnish professors at the University of Tartu” continued. In this series, UT faculties in cooperation with the Finnish Institute and Embassy of Finland can invite top scientists to give public lectures and seminars for experts. In 2016, two lectures were delivered: presentation by professor of comparative literature of the University of Turku Liisa Steinby “The emergence of the modern subjectivity in the eighteenth-century novel” and lecture by professor of Helsinki Theatre Academy and director Esa Kirkkopelto “On the pedagogical theatre of Finnish theatrical director and controversialist Jouko Turkka”.

Cooperation networksThe university joined the cooperation network The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild). Also, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) invited UT to become the East European partner of the network of Europe’s leading universities.

The conference organised under the aegis of the German-Estonian Academic Week Academica, supported by the Federation of Employers’ Association of North Rhine-Westphalia “The University Landscape in the Light of Enlightenment”, brought outstanding art historians and theorists from the world’s top universities to Tartu.

Ambassador of Turkey H.E. Ms Hayriye Kumaşҫioğlu visited the university and opened

the photography exhibition “Turkey” during the Turkish Days organised in the UT College

of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Head of the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia, Ambassador H.E. Mr Wu Rong-chuan opened the exhibition “Civilisation Trail: Chinese book culture through the time” in UT museum. This was one of the events of the month of Taiwan culture.

UT became officially a member of the newly established The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. The opening event in Brussels focused on research and innovation policy. The general meeting of rectors of member universities was followed by a symposium of EU research experts “Overcoming Boundaries: Open Science and Open Innovation”, in which one of the speakers was Rector Volli Kalm.

UT Rector Volli Kalm and Vice Rector of the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) Danny Pieters invited representatives of 11

Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Finnish and Belgian universities to Tartu to the seminar

“Internationalisation and Own Cultural Identity” to discuss how to preserve national

culture and native languages in an increasingly internationalised higher education landscape.

UT hosted the delegation of Uppsala University led by Rector Professor Eva Åkesson. The universities introduced their plans in research and studies, and shared experiences with admi-nistrative reforms.

UT delegation led by the rector visited the universities of Tbilisi, Ilia and Kutaisi in

Georgia. Academics of the University of Tartu delivered lectures and the Estonian Embassy in Georgia organised a meeting with UT alumni.

38

Cultural activities

Alumni activities

UT alumni reunion in 2016 was the largest ever to take place in Estonia, bringing together nearly 2,000 graduates of the alma mater. The alumni attended lectures delivered by legendary teaching staff, took part in sports competitions, business events, concerts, spent a good time in Estonia’s only university town. The next alumni reunion takes place in 2019, the year of the 100th anniversary of the national university.

Aiming to bring the alumni community closer together, link them more to the university, develop mutual communication and professional cooperation, UT launched the web environment utalumni.ee, which enables members to post events and invitations, announce job and internship offers and find former classmates.

A new UT alumni badge was created and is given to all those who graduated 2016 or later. The badge was inspired by the lithograph “Bygone Times” (1972) by former UT student and a well-known Estonian artist Endel Kõks, and depicts the author’s world travels and intellectual contribution to Estonian art and culture.

UT Folk Art Ensemble’s young women’s group in the central park of Chișinău, Moldova at “Întâlniri Bucovinene” folklore festival

Brass orchestra “Popsid” on tour in West Estonia. Concert in

Kuressaare central square

Tartu Academic Male Voice Choir celebrating the 80th birthday of maestro Alo Ritsing

UT Academic Women’s Choir performing at a seminar of

European Heritage Days at Hellenurme watermill

University of Tartu Symphony Orchestra performing on Tartu City Day

MTÜ Tartu Ülikooli Akadeemiline Spordiklubi (100%)

OÜ Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus (100%)

OÜ Tartu Ülikooli Kesklinna Apteek (100%)

OÜ Eesti Nanotehnoloogiate Arenduskeskuse AS (23.8%)

OÜ Tervisliku Piima Biotehnoloogiate Arenduskeskus (20%)

MTÜ Tartu Üliõpilasmaja(100%)

MTÜ Tartu Üliõpilasküla(100%)

Academus Hostel OÜ(100%)

UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

E‐Kyla Arendus OÜ(33.3%)

39

The consolidation group of the UT consists of the university and nine other legal entities. In 2016, Eesti Nanotehnoloogiate Arenduskeskuse AS was liquidated and the liquidation process of OÜ Tartu Ülikooli Kesklinna Apteek was started. The total operating revenue of the group amounted to 138.0 million euros in 2016.

Main indicators of the field and volume of activity of the legal entities in the consolidation group

legal person in public law field of activityoperating

revenuetotal net gain/loss

balance sheet total net assets

(in thousands of euros)

University of Tartu higher education, research 133,361 -9,244 279,532 243,799

OÜ Tartu Ülikooli Kesklinna Apteek sale of medicines 448 -112 78 75

OÜ Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus publishing 430 15 347 286

Academus Hostel OÜ accommodation 378 37 208 204

E-Kyla Arendus OÜsoftware development for student residences

24 0 65 58

OÜ Tervisliku Piima Biotehnoloogiate Arenduskeskus

research in natural sciences 1,342 8 491 256

Eesti Nanotehnoloogiate Arenduskeskuse AS nanotechnological research 1 -32 0 0

MTÜ Tartu Üliõpilasküla student accommodation 3,235 27 1,099 662

MTÜ Tartu Ülikooli Akadeemiline Spordiklubi students’ sports activities 2,955 -62 365 152

MTÜ Tartu Üliõpilasmaja students’ cultural activities 384 -20 209 190

University of Tartu group 137,989 -9,382 281,803 245,383

The university has concentrated its fiscal policy in four directions:

• diversifying and focusing revenue,• implementing austerity measures,• consistent management of the policy for covering indirect costs,• improving the efficiency of financial management on all administrative levels.

In 2016, the university achieved the goals set in the university’s financial strategy:

• cash flow from economic activities is positive – actual +8,131,291 euros,• share of university’s net assets in balance sheet is at least 75% – actual 87.1%,• loan burden is less than 25% of annual revenue – actual 9.7%.

Financial activitiesOBJECTIVE: the university considers financial sustainability when making choices

40

Main investments in 2016• The renovation of the library started (estimated cost 9.5

million euros).• The renovation of the UT Museum was completed (cost

0.75 million euros).• Preparations for the construction of the IT centre Delta

started (estimated cost of the centre is 30 million euros, an architecture competition was organised and designing started in 2016).

• The designing of the extension to the Ujula 4 sports building started.

Main investments in 2017• The construction of Delta building starts. • The construction of the Ujula 4 extension starts

(estimated cost 6.5 million euros).• The renovation of the library continues.• The construction of the Narva College student residence

starts (estimated cost 3.4 million euros). • The renovation of the Nooruse 7 residence hall starts

(estimated cost 1.0 million euros).• The renovation of Biomeedikum (the vivarium is rebuilt

for teaching, the façade is renovated and utilities are modernised, estimated cost 1.3 million euros).

Main indicators (consolidated)

FINANCIAL INDICATORS (in thousands of euros) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Operating revenue 154,633 173,866 158,487 161,895 137,989Operating expenses 142,967 153,685 150,714 157,890 147,306Financial revenue and expenses -309 -148 -162 -135 -59

Annual total net gain/loss 11,353 20,027 7,605 3,864 -9,382

Balance sheet total 263,711 284,995 291,846 290,866 281,803

Current assets 38,730 46,226 50,046 48,897 51,390

Fixed assets 224,982 238,769 241,800 241,969 230,413

Current liabilities 24,264 28,507 29,214 27,299 25,968

Long-term liabilities 16,178 13,192 11,731 8,802 10,452

Net assets 223,269 243,296 250,901 254,765 245,383

Loans from banks 19,378 16,171 14,760 11,730 13,352

RATIOS 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Operating expenses/operating revenue 93% 88% 95% 98% 107%

Loans/operating revenue 13% 9% 9% 7% 10%

Current assets/current liabilities 160% 162% 171% 179% 198%

Fixed assets/balance sheet total 85% 84% 83% 83% 82%

Loans/balance sheet total 7% 6% 5% 4% 5%

Net assets/balance sheet total 85% 85% 86% 88% 87%

OBJECTIVE: the university develops infrastructure, following the principle of ensuring the quality of study and research and optimal use of resources

The University of Tartu Museum in the cathedral has been modernised and made compliant with the requirements of the Rescue Board. The museum was reopened to visitors in spring 2016.

Ülikooli 1850090 Tartu ESTONIA

Information desk 737 5100E-mail info@ut.eeHomepage www.ut.ee

Twitter www.twitter.com/tartuuniversityFacebook www.facebook.com/tartuylikoolYouTube www.youtube.com/TartuUniversity

Univeristy of Tartu. Annual Report 2016

Editors: Annika Tina, Helina Riisalu, Katrin Pajuste-Kuul

The report was compiled with the assistance of Annely Allik, Teele Arak, Kalle Hein, Ülle Hendrikson, Laura Hütt, Ingrid Jaggo, Tuuli Kaldma, Katriin Kaljovee, Kaja Karo, Kristi Kerge, Mihkel Kree, Kristi Kuningas, Kalmer Lauk, Helle Lilleorg, Jelena Makarova, Liana Martin, Reet Mägi, Kristin Männik, Karin Org, Lehti Pilt, Kärt Puura, Lauri Randveer, Tiia Ristolainen, Kersti Roosimäe, Mairo Rääsk, Marek Sammul, Aire Seene, Ülle Tensing, Raivo Valk, Sirje Üprus and many others.

Translation: Ann KuslapDesign: Helina Riisalu

Photography: Andres Tennus, Kristi Henno, Sander Ilvest, Aliis Liin, Sigita Matuleviciene, Erik Peinar, Rene Saarsoo, Peeter Säälik, Erlend Štaub, Siim Vatalin, Sirje Üprus, ERR, Tartu University Hospital, webpage of UT Symphony Orchestra, Facebook page of UT Academic Women’s Choir, Pärnu Postimees

More detailed data tables are available on the UT website ut.ee/et/ulikool-arvudes

Copyright University of Tartu 2017

ISSN 1406-7072

Univeristy of Tartu

Activity Report2016