The arts and humanities programmes at the University of Tartu have been ranked between 251 and 300 in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings table of subjects; the overall ranking of the university is between 301 and 350.
The subject rankings by the British journal, Times Higher Education, are based on the same methodology it uses for its world university rankings. The calculation takes into consideration 13 performance indicators that describe the learning environment, research influence and volume, the academic reputation, revenue, innovation and the scope of internationalisation.
According to professor Margit Sutrop, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the university’s international visibility has been improved by publishing in different languages, organising international conferences, creating English-language master’s curricula, recruiting foreign teaching staff, student exchanges and the participation of the University of Tartu researchers in cooperation networks and research projects.
Sutrop said in a statement that the humanities researchers had found international success because they “have made smart use of the opportunities” afforded by the university and have worked closely with researchers from other fields.
“In addition to the interdisciplinary consortia established to advance research cooperation, we have created three faculty-based master’s schools that integrate similar programmes and offer more diverse teaching, supervision and traineeship opportunities to students,” she added.
Founded in 1632 by the Swedish King, Gustav II Adolph, the University of Tartu is the oldest and largest university in Estonia both in terms of numbers of staff and students, and the volume of its teaching, research and development activities.
Cover: The University of Tartu’s main building.
