The conference focuses on the topic of international cooperation of higher education institutions as well as issues related to the mobility of students and professors.
Speakers at the conference will be from the donor countries of the program, Norway and Iceland, as well as from the Ministry of Education and Research, the Board of Education and Youth, and higher education institutions.
The EEA Baltic Research Programme has been a driving force in fostering collaboration between Estonian higher education institutions and their partners in Norway and Iceland. Funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanisms from 2014 to 2024, with contributions from these donor countries – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the programme aimed to internationalise Estonian higher education and strengthen academic ties across borders.
Through this programme, ten higher education cooperation projects and one mobility project were funded. These initiatives created strong partnerships between Estonian higher education institutions and their counterparts in donor countries. Faculty and staff enhanced their expertise, established professional networks, and collaborated on projects of shared interest. Students benefited from valuable international experience, improving their job prospects both in Estonia and abroad.
In addition to the open application rounds, the programme supported two pre-defined projects. One focused on teaching Norwegian language and literature at the University of Tartu, while the other aimed to improve the teaching quality of an inclusive education curriculum in collaboration of University of Tartu and Tallinn University.
This conference offers a unique opportunity to review the programme’s achievements and discuss the lessons learned by Estonian university staff and discuss on topics concerning internationalisation more broadly. It will also provide insights from Nordic best practices in higher education internationalisation. As the international landscape changes, it's crucial to balance openness with responsibility, especially in areas like research ethics, human rights, and academic freedom. Universities must navigate these challenges to ensure the integrity and safety of academic work.
