Topic: recognition 

On 13 May, the reputable Baltic Awards 2026 ceremony took place in Riga to recognise outstanding representatives of science, culture, the arts and public life from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The award for significant contribution to science was presented to Vice Dean for Research at the University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine, academician and Professor of Human Genetics Maris Laan.

How does international research cooperation begin? How do new research methods emerge, and how are connections forged that last a lifetime? Sometimes, it all starts with a scholarship. This year’s recipients of the University of Tartu Seventh Pillar Fund scholarship, history master’s student Marie Anna Blehner and pharmacy student Janeli Lember, will use the grant to go abroad to study and represent Estonia, and later bring the knowledge and experience back home.

The society award 2025 is granted for establishing the Estonian Cancer Network, an important step towards the comprehensive development and collaborative management of cancer control in Estonia.

The committee formed by the University of Tartu Student Union chose the recipients of the teaching staff of the year 2025 awards from among 100 nominees.

On 23 January, the University of Tartu Foundation recognised the scholarship recipients of the autumn semester of 2025 and thanked the foundation’s donors in the White Hall of the University of Tartu Museum. Scholarships were awarded from 33 funds in a total amount exceeding €200,000.

At the conference “Teaching for learning 2026”, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk presented the teaching awards and the teaching quality award of 2025.

With the annual awards, the university aims to recognise its employees’ and students’ outstanding achievements in teaching, doing research and serving society.

On 1 December, at the ceremony of the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university, scholarships were awarded to bring mathematician Juhan Aru and oncogeneticist Jüri Reimand to work at the University of Tartu as expatriate Estonian visiting professors.

On 27 November, the University of Tartu announced its teaching excellence ambassadors, who set an example for the entire university community. The title is given to recognise 20 academic staff members who develop their teaching based on evidence and support an open teaching culture that values learning.

On 21 November, Rector Toomas Asser handed over the university’s this year’s 123 honorary decorations. This marked the beginning of the traditional events of the 106th anniversary of Estonia’s national university.