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University of Helsinki and Tallinn University sign agreement

Among other things, the agreement enables student and teacher exchange.

The University of Helsinki and Tallinn University, which was established in 2005, signed a co-operation agreement on 15th January. Among other things, the agreement enables student and teacher exchange.

“I am very proud to have the University of Helsinki as the first partner university for Tallinn University,” says Professor Rein Raud, Rector of Tallinn University. “The University of Helsinki is an important partner for us because it is the closest university of high international standard.”

Ilkka Niiniluoto, Rector of the University of Helsinki agrees: “Tallinn University is not only the closest foreign university to us, but it is also geographically closer than, for example, the universities in Turku or Tampere. It is quite possible for researchers and students to participate in the teaching of both universities, even on the same day.”

Professor Raud says that Tallinn University is allocating separate funds in its budget for co-operation with the University of Helsinki. As a practical development proposal, he mentions the possibility of taking additional courses at the other university during term breaks. “The terms in Helsinki and Tallinn do not exactly coincide,” Professor Raud says, “so an eager student could easily use the term break for studying elsewhere.”

The partnership between the two universities is strongly based on personal relations. The Rector served for 11 years as Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Helsinki. He is currently on leave of absence from his teaching, but is planning a return. “The Rector’s post is not forever.”

Professor Raud’s personal contribution will soon be demonstrated by the fact that Tallinn University’s next co-operation agreement will be signed with a Japanese university.

Text: Juha Merimaa
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
22.1.2008
http://www.helsinki.fi/digitalcommunications

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