OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 May, the Board of Governors of Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) elected academician Jaak Aaviksoo new Rector of the only university of technology in Estonia.

He will assume office on 1 September for the term of five years.  TUT elected Rector from among four candidates.

Sandor Liive, Chairman of the TUT Board of Governors, thanked academicians Jakob K?barsepp and Mart Ustav and professor Andrus Salupere, who competed with Jaak Aaviksoo, for the work they had to do during an intensive period of candidacy. "The choice was difficult, because there were only very strong candidates in the final round," Liive said. "Long-term and effective experience in educational leadership both, at the University of Tartu and as a Minister of Education and Research, were to Aaviksoo's credit. At the same time I hope that the new Rector can use the TUT development visions prepared by the opposing candidates in his work."

According to Jaak Aaviksoo, the new Rector of TUT, he could not have imagined a year ago that he would return to his old last in the area of education. "But today I am very glad that I can use my 40-years of research and experience in the management of a university and educational life to boost the development of TUT," Aaviksoo said. "TUT is undoubtedly one of the most important, may-be the most important, driving forces in the development of the Estonian economy and society."

Academician Aaviksoo said that one of his priority as a Rector is to bring TUT study programmes closer to the needs of the Estonian society. "It is also important to enhance research, in particular in the classical areas of technology, and focus on the problems in Estonia and to bring TUT development into compliance with the preferences of the entrepreneurs, so that our graduates would meet better the expectations of the employers," the new Rector said. "This list definitely includes the division of labour between the universities both, in Estonia and on an international level. My slogan is: "Rather less, but better!"

The Board of Governors elected Jaak Aaviksoo TUT Rector by 8 votes in favour. The Board of Governors will authorise the new Rector to office by 22 June, if the TUT Council does not use its legal right of veto within one month. The 41-member Council consists of TUT teaching staff, employees and students.

Jaak Aaviksoo (61) graduated cum laude from the University of Tartu in the field of theoretical physics in 1976. From 1976 to 1992 he was first junior, then senior and then leading scientist at the Physics Institute of the Estonian Academy of Sciences; there he defended his Ph.D. in physics and mathematics. From 1981 to 1994 Aaviksoo worked as a guest professor at the Novosibirsk Institute of Thermal Physics, the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Germany), Osaka University (Japan) and University of Paris (France). From 1992 until now Jaak Aaviksoo has been professor of optics and spectroscopy at the University of Tartu, from 1992 to 1995 he was Vice-Rector of the University of Tartu, from 1996 to 1998 Head of the Institute of Experimental Physics and Technology and from 1998 to 2007 Rector of the University of Tartu. Aaviksoo has been Minister of Education and Research twice and Minister of Defence once and a member of three compositions of Riigikogu. 

From 1994 Jaak Aaviksoo is an academician at the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Honorary Doctor of the University of Turku, Honorary Doctor of the University of Lapland and member of the Academia Europea, Estonian Physical Society, Board of Elders of the Estonian Defence League and Rotary Club. Aaviksoo has been awarded the Order of Merit of the National Coat of Arms, class IV, Order of Merit of the White Star, II class, of the Republic of Estonia, Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Order of the White Rose of Finland, National Order of Merit of France, Order of the Three Stars, II class, of the Republic of Latvia and Cross of Merit of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, III class. Aaviksoo is a father of one daughter and two sons.

The Board of Governors who elected the Rector is the highest decision-making body of TUT, which represents the university's as well as the societal point of view. The Board of Governors includes five representatives of the university, one member from the Estonian Academy of Sciences and five members with business background appointed by the Government.

TUT founded in 1918 is the only university of technology in Estonia, the uniqueness of which lies in the synergy of engineering, natural, exact, social and health sciences. TUT is responsible for ensuring the offspring of engineers and technical scientists. There are 13,254 students, 151 professors and 528 research staff in the university and the number of alumni is 65,000. The TUT campus, which is situated on more than 50 ha, includes 72 buildings. In addition to eight faculties, IT College and Tallinn Science Park are situated here with the latter comprising more than 150 high-tech companies. TUT has separate colleges in Kuressaare, Tartu, Kohtla-Jarve and Tallinn; the newest college is the Estonian Maritime Academy. The students are offered superb student and cultural life; the accommodation and sporting facilities are one of the best in Northern Europe.