Quality label awarded to four Skytte e-courses

Four e-courses created by the staff of Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies received an e-course quality label in the competition "Estonian E-course Quality Label 2025", organised by the e-learning quality working group of the Estonian Quality Agency for Education. One of the courses, also received the award "Digiõppe tipptase 2025" ("Peak Digital Teaching 2025").

The main objective of the quality label process is to improve the quality of e-courses in Estonia. The quality label confirms the excellent level of the e-course and is an acknowledgement to the designer and teacher. This year, 55 e-courses from Estonian general, vocational and higher education institutions received the quality label, 19 of them from the University of Tartu, including 8 from the field of social sciences and 4 courses directly from the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies.

The courses which received the e-course quality mark include:

“Democracy and Autocracy in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood”

• Authors: Anna Beitane, Stefano Braghiroli, Sandra Hagelin and guest contributions from Maili Vilson, Natalia Kovyliaeva, Oleksii Kolesnykov, Catherine Helen Gibson, Thomas Michael Linsenmaier, David Ilmar Lepasaar Beecher, Givi Gigitashvili, Shota Kakabadze, Katsiaryna Lozka, Claudiu Tufiș)
• The course explores political systems and processes in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, focusing on democratic challenges and autocratic tendencies within historical and contemporary contexts. It introduces key concepts of democracy and autocracy, examines regional political systems comparatively, and analyzes the influence of Europeanization.
• This MOOC received the "Digiõppe tipptase 2025" ("Peak Digital Teaching 2025").
• Next opening: autumn 2025.

“Greenfluencer: Innovative Green Communication”

• Authors: Hanna Laius, Anastasiia Turusinova, Edit Kővári, Adina Baya, Rasa Pranskūnienė, Réka Mária Vámosi
• The goal of the course is to help younger adults to learn more about communication of green issues. By the end of the course, course participants should be equipped with different communication instruments and know how to use them when communicating green topics.

“Introduction to International Relations”

• Authors: Kristel Vits, Maili Vilson, Eiki Berg, Raul Toomla, Rein Toomla, Eva Piirimäe
• Offered in cooperation with the Youth Academy of the University of Tartu, the aim of this course is to introduce the main subjects and methods of international (interstate and supranational) relations to Estonian high school students. Throughout the course, the diversity and challenges of international relations are explained through current global events and examples.
• Next opening: autumn 2025.

“Ukraine: The European Frontier”

• Authors: Dmytro Khutkyy
• The course aims to introduce a brief history of Ukraine, examine contemporary Ukrainian identity, culture, society, politics, countering Russia's invasion, integration into the European Union, digital transformation, and reflect on possible Ukrainian futures.
• Next opening: September 2025

According to the Deputy Head for Academic Affairs, Maili Vilson, the outcome reflects consistent efforts by the Institute’s teaching staff to develop engaging and well-structured online learning environments: “We are very pleased to see several of our e-courses recognized with the quality label this year. Participating in this national initiative provides valuable feedback and encourages us to keep enhancing the quality of our e-learning offerings.”

The top e-courses of the year will be announced on 30 May at the final ceremony, where the best e-courses will be presented and all e-courses with the quality label are nominated. For more information on the competition and final ceremony, please see the competition website (in Estonian).