OREANDA-NEWS. January 10, 2012. By January 2012 a new, modernized model of management that will include outside associates will officially come into effect at the University of Tartu. Both the Senate and the Council with changed functions will start working as new management units of the university in January, reported the press-centre of UT.

The invite that was sent to the members of the new council is signed by the Rector Alar Karis and by Ivar-Igor Saarniit, the Academic Scretary of UT. It contains a proposition to summon the first meeting of the new council in January 2012. According to the Academic Secretary Ivar-Igor Saarniit, at the first meeting the chairman of the board will be elected and the house rules of the Council will be formed. The Council is the highest decision-making organ of the University, responsible for the economic activities and long-term development. Its assignments include confirming the Constitution of the University and determining the development plan and yearly budget.

The Council has eleven members: Toomas Asser, Toivo Maimets, Peeter Saari, Juri Sepp and Paul Varul, all nominated by the Council of UT; Kari Olavi Raivio, nominated by the Estonian Academy of Sciences; and Kaja Tael, Toomas Kiho, Kersti Kaljulaid, Vahur Kraft and Aku Sorainen, nominated by the Ministry of Education and Research. The staff of the Council was nominated for five years by the Government of Estonia at it’s meeting on December 22.

The first meeting of the Senate will take place in January 13th 2012, as determined by the Rector, Alar Karis. The Senate is the academic decision-making board of the University, responsible for academic, research and development activities and assuring its high quality. Among other things, the Senate confirms the Constitution of the University and presents it to the Council for verifying.

The Senate consists of the Rector as the Chairman and 21 members, with 16 of them nominated by the lecturers and research workers of the University at an election in October 21, and five being the representatives of the student body.

At the first meeting of the Senate, the main issue of discussion will be changing the Constitution of the University to make it compatible with the Law of the University of Tartu.

Additional Information: Ivar-Igor Saarniit, the Academic Secretary of UT; Phone: 737 5605, 511 6942; E-mail: ivar.saarniit@ut.ee