Schedule
10:00–10:15 Welcome addresses
10:15–11:15 Making the University of Tartu one of the top 100 universities in the world
• “European universities in the rapidly changing world – the benefits of cooperation and mobility”Eva Åkesson, Professor, Vice-chancellor of Uppsala University
• “How can we make the University of Tartu one of the top 100 universities in the world?”Kristjan Vassil, Vice Rector for Research, University of Tartu
Presentations are followed by a panel discussion between Eva Åkesson, Kristjan Vassil and UT doctoral student Jason Dydynski
11:15–12:15 University of Tartu as the accelerator of Estonia’s future economy
• “How can we change the world? One student at a time!”Dan Bogdanov, Head of the Department of Privacy Technologies, Cybernetica AS • “The hidden intersection of research and entrepreneurship”Heli Lukner, Senior Research Fellow in Physical Optics, University of Tartu; Head of Autonomy Development, Milrem AS
Presentations are followed by a panel discussion between Heli Lukner, Dan Bogdanov and UT student Martin Käärik
12:15–12:45 Coffee break
12:45–13:45 University of Tartu – the only top-level, Estonian-language comprehensive university in the world
• “University and independence”Meelis Friedenthal, Senior Research Fellow in the Intellectual History of the Baltic Sea Region, University of Tartu • “University that released the mind”Ilmar Raag, Professor of Liberal Arts, University of Tartu
Presentations are followed by a panel discussion between Meelis Friedenthal, Ilmar Raag and UT alumna Janeli Harjus
13:45–14:00 Summary and closure
18:00 Rector’s reception in the White Hall of the University of Tartu Museum
The event will be held in Estonian and English. Synchronised translation is provided at the conference. The organiser reserves the right to change the programme.
Eva Åkesson is a Professor of Chemical Physics, Rector of Uppsala University since 2012 and a promoter of the internationalisation of European universities. Her earlier career is also related to the management of universities: since 1996, she has worked in different positions at the Lund University where she ultimately held the position of Vice Rector from 2003-2011. Eva Åkesson has been a member of the University of Tartu Council since 2017. She is the Vice Chairman of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and thanks to her recommendation, the University of Tartu was also asked to become one of the network’s founding members. For her services in promoting international cooperation at the University of Tartu and supporting its management as a member of the council, the university’s senate recently awarded Eva Åkesson the Skytte Medal.
Kristjan Vassil is the University of Tartu’s Vice Rector for Research. In 2012, he defended his doctoral degree in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Before assuming the position of the Vice Rector for Research in 2017, Vassil worked as a Senior Research Fellow in Technology Studies at the University of Tartu Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. His main areas of research are technology studies, the economic and behavioural impact of the e-state, the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the development of public e-services and voting behaviour. He is a member of the Estonian National Election Study Steering Committee and the Project Manager of the development of the Estonian electoral compass.
Dan Bogdanov is the creator of Sharemind, an innovative data processing system based on multi-party computation, and the Head of the Privacy Technology Department at Cybernetica AS. In 2013, he defended his doctoral degree at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science. Dan Bogdanov is active in the international standardisation of information security, teaches programming and promotes privacy. He has been awarded the White Cross, IV Class state decoration and the Young IT Scientist Award for his work in research and development.
Heli Lukner is a Senior Research Fellow in Physical Optics at the University of Tartu, Head of Development at Milrem AS defence company and a member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences. She is the recipient of the President of the Republic’s Cultural Foundation’s Young Scientist Award and the Main Award of the Estonian Research Communication Competition. Heli Lukner is known to the public as one of the judges of the educational programme Rakett 69 and the co-author of the book Füübits.
Meelis Friedenthal is an Estonian writer and theologist who works at the University of Tartu Library as a Senior Research Fellow in the Intellectual History of the Baltic Sea region. In 2008, he defended his doctoral degree at the University of Tartu School of Theology and Religious Studies. His main research subjects are the history of research and ideas, the relationship between science and religion and the theology and philosophy of the middle ages and the early modern period. In 2013, Meelis Friedenthal received the European Union Prize for Literature for his historical novel The Willow King.
Ilmar Raag is the Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Tartu, film director, screenwriter and film critic. During his long television career, he has edited and hosted TV programmes and worked as the Head of Programme and the Chairman of the Management Board of the Estonian Television from 2002-2005. Raag has worked as the Strategic Communication Adviser at the Government Communication Unit and been a member of the Estonian President’s Academic Advisory Board. He has also taught media, communication and film courses in universities. Ilmar Raag has been awarded the White Cross, IV Class state decoration and the title of Opinion Leader of the Year 2013 of the daily Postimees.
The Juhan Peegel Conference and the Delta Economics Conference will be held in addition to the development conference in the afternoon of 17 May.
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. The university website does not process or collect personal data. This website uses Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics. Read more in the Data Protection Policy.