15 Interesting Facts about the University of Tartu in 2007

The University of Tartu has published „Yearbook 2007”, which highlights the most interesting and significant numbers and facts about the university last year. The Yearbook is a nicely designed 28-page publication in Estonian and English. We have picked out 15 encouraging facts, but you can make your own list from the full Yearbook text. Some free copies of the yearbook are also available at the UT Public Relations Office.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

• 16,992 students were enrolled at UT as of the end of 2007.
• UT employed 3,445 people by the end of 2007.
• UT offered 950 continuing education courses in 2007, attracting over 19,000 students – more than degree programs for the first time.

…UT STUDENTS ARE SMART

• More than 500 medalists – nearly half of all Estonian upper secondary school graduates who received gold or silver medals for outstanding study results – chose to study at UT.
• UT students took most of the 2007 national student research awards.
• Compared to 2000, the number of Ph.D. students at UT has almost doubled. Close to 100 Ph.D. theses were defended in 2007.

…UT ACHIEVEMENTS ARE DIVERSE

• UT Professor Marika Mikelsaar, one of the discoverers of the ME-3 bacterium used in diary products, was recognized as an “EU Woman Inventor and Innovator”.
• In 2007 the UT library, which lists over 46,000 registered readers, won the International Marketing Award for the project “Night Library and Student Mom Library”.
• UT mobile science theatre, Suur Vanker (Big Dipper), received several international awards.
• UT Chamber Choir was selected as the best in the International Choir Festival “Tallinn 2007”.
• UT Academic Sports Club has been the most successful athletics club in Estonia for 6 years now.
• UT basketball team Rock secured the 2007 Estonian Basketball Champion´s title.

…UT COLLABORATES WITH SUCCESSFUL BRANDS

• Philips commissioned UT researchers to design the PET scanner; Samsung relies on UT scientists´ help to improve plasma TVs.
• UT scientists and Estonian brewery A. Le Coq created a new type of bottled water named “Wisdom”, which is designed to stimulate brain activity and counter stress.
• In cooperation with Hansabank, UT created the Professorship of Software Technology, the first such academic post to be fully funded by the private sector in Estonia.

Inga Külmoja
Senior Specialist for International Communication
Phone: +372 737 6165
inga [dot] kulmoja [ät] ut [dot] ee