University of Tartu and Tartu Art College plan sharing responsibility in painting education
According to the plan of the University of Tartu and Tartu Art College, first level higher education in painting would continue at Tartu Art College. At the University of Tartu it will be possible to study in master’s programmes of Teacher of Arts and Handicrafts, and Culture Management but a separate master’s programme of Painting will not continue. This restructuring will enable better quality and competitiveness of arts studies in Estonia and on an international level.
The University of Tartu opened their curriculum of Painting in 1992 to ensure the continuing of higher education in arts outside of Tallinn. Until now, UT and Tartu Art College have simultaneously maintained and developed higher education in arts in southern Estonia. By now, however, Tartu Art College has an internationally accredited curriculum of Painting and Wall Paintings' Restoration. Therefore, UT Rector Volli Kalm and Rector of Tartu Art College Vallo Nuust discussed that instead of teaching similar curricula simultaneously in small groups in two institutions it would be more efficient to gather first level higher education in painting to one higher education institution—Tartu Art College. This will improve the role of Tartu Art College as the centre of art education in south Estonia and this in turn enables to strengthen Tartu’s position in the Estonian cultural sphere and create better potential for international development.
“Taking into consideration the competitiveness and development of painting as a specialisation, it is more reasonable to specialise by fields in the first level of higher education, instead of doubling with small groups. The university can contribute to extending the curricula of Tartu Art College in classical painting as well as in general subjects if necessary. Master’s studies would no longer be two additional years of painting but instead in the field of culture management or art teacher,” explained Rector Volli Kalm. “The two institutions will start work immediately on preparing the activities and cooperation necessary for the restructuring of studies,” added Kalm.
There are currently 16 students in the University of Tartu bachelor’s programme of Painting and ten in the master’s programme. All students can complete their studies at the university according to the current curricula. Painting will still be taught as an optional course.
Rector of Tartu Art College Vallo Nuust assured that Tartu Art College will increase admissions to the Painting and Wall Paintings' Restoration curriculum already in the coming year. “Some of our curricula are designed so that students are able to choose in the third semester whether they want to continue in conservation/restauration or design,” said Nuust. “As a result of the restructuring, the Painting and Wall Paintings' Restoration curriculum will now also have the arts direction. As the students admitted in 2016 will make their choice in autumn 2017, we will have enough time to develop the curriculum.” Tartu Art College graduates can continue their studies at the University of Tartu in various humanities master’s programmes, including Teacher of Arts and Handicrafts, Culture Management or some other specialisation which provides broad education in general humanities and cultural art education. Tartu Art College also intends to open an English curriculum.
Students have several advantages when acquiring arts education at Tartu Art College. The studies give clearer outputs for the labour market—more than 80% of Tartu Art College graduates are employed in their specialisation. The time of studies will be four years, the scope of practical subjects and practical training will increase and at the same time the number of obligatory theoretical subjects will increase. Based on the cooperation agreement of Tartu Art College and the University of Tartu which has operated for several years, students are able to participate in the studies of the other institution free of charge and the credit points from the other institutions are considered in completing the curriculum. Some University of Tartu curricula even have an elective module with Art College subjects. The students who choose to study painting at Tartu Art College will be offered elective modules of subjects taught at the University of Tartu.
Additional information: Professor Margit Sutrop, Dean of UT Faculty of Philosophy, margit.sutrop [ät] ut.ee, ph 737 5327, 52 07 183
Vallo Nuust, Rector of Tartu Art College, artcol [ät] artcol.ee, ph 730 9826, 51 76 185