Skytte news

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

This spring, the University of Tartu opens 192 doctoral positions. Everyone who wants to gain new knowledge and pursue a career as a researcher, top specialist, or manager is welcome to apply.

Anna Beitane is Head of Digital Projects at the University of Tartu’s Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. First introduced to online learning during her master’s degree, Anna has gone on to develop courses taken by thousands of students worldwide.

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

The University of Tartu Spring Run, held on 15 April, featured a more varied programme and brought more than 1,000 sports enthusiasts to the banks of the river Emajõgi.

The call for applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships is open until 9 September 2026. In April and May, the Estonian Research Council (ETAG) will host info sessions to help prospective applicants prepare their applications.

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

Staff members of the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies are contributing to the establishment of the Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education (ACE)

The former head, Kristiina Tõnnisson, has taken up the position of chair of the management board of the Estonian Research Council, and the institute is now led by former deputy head Maili Vilson.

The university is launching a physical activity and wellbeing programme to support the mental and physical wellbeing of the university community and shape a learning and working environment that fosters physical activity.

Speaker application is open until April 1 for TEDxUniversity of Tartu.

Course „Contested Concepts. Unravelling Meanings Across Europe“. This Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) offers an opportunity to explore how key political and social concepts are interpreted across different European contexts.

A new collaborative initiative between Estonia and the United Kingdom will develop an innovative wargaming framework aimed at improving how institutions respond to hybrid threats and disinformation. The nine-month project is funded by the UKRI NetworkPlus for Analytical Behavioural Science in Security and Defence (NABS+). It is led by the University of Liverpool in partnership with the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, University of Tartu will include academia and practitioners in the UK and Estonia in the field of security studies, disinformation and international relations.

From the 2026/2027 academic year, many international master’s curricula at the University of Tartu will offer tuition waivers or reductions to students from the European Union. Students arriving from outside the European Union will have to pay tuition fees.

With wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Nagorno-Karabakh dominating contemporary international relations, the study of secessionist bids and the quest for statehood and recognition becomes paramount. It is essential that students of International Relations hold a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the concepts and practices of secessionism as well as the way in which these aspects impact international order. Questions regarding peace and violence in secessionist bids as well as the possible outcomes of secessionist wars continue to dominate both academic and policymaking debate, making this topic worthwhile for discussion and study.

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

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

The Guild, including the University of Tartu among its members, is pleased to announce that it has joined the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine.

This course creates a transnational space in which students can engage in meaningful dialogue about key European issues and their implications for democratic life.

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