The Paul Ariste Centre for the Indigenous Finno-Ugric Peoples based at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Tartu as a unit aims at uniting the young Finno-Ugrians studying at the universities in the south of Estonia and the members of the staff of the universities involved in teaching the students or doing research in the Finno-Ugric studies, as well as at enhancing the academic activities in the related subjects. The Centre distributes the available resources and promotes work in the field.

The activities of the Centre are focused on

• providing academic and professional orientation to the indigenous Uralic students, facilitating their adaptation to the Estonian way of life and general cross-cultural communication;
• promoting intra- and interdisciplinary research in the Finno-Ugric and Samoyed areas;
• promoting student and teacher training activities in the Uralic studies;
• enhancing academic activities aimed at the study of the Uralic languages and culture of the indigenous peoples;
• organising lecture and workshop courses on related subjects;
• developing printing activities;
• developing contacts with international organisations for indigenous peoples;
• taking part in the preparation of regional and international forums.

The work of the Centre is supervised by the director and a council consisting of 7 members with a representative of the Dean's office as chairman.

Paul Ariste Centre for Indigenous Finno-Ugric Peoples, University of Tartu
webmaster