Tartu Rector Brings Up Merger with Life Sciences University
A possible merger between the University of Tartu and the national agricultural college, the University of Life Sciences, is again on the table.
University of Tartu rector Alar Karis, who first proposed the idea two years ago, has proposed convoking a committee to analyze possibilities for merging the institutions, though it is not yet clear when this would happen.
"As I have also served as the rector of the University of Life Sciences, I know both universities fairly well and and I see the potential that is unused," said the rector in daily Eesti Päevaleht, explaining why the integration of the universities would increase quality of academic studies. Karis cited current lack of professors arising from largely overlapping courses as well as high overheads and infrastructure costs as his main considerations.
But rector of the University of Life Sciences Mait Klaassen is not as bullish on a merger.
"Physically joining the universities will not give us anything today," he said in Eesti Päevaleht, adding that the "known problem areas" in education would have to be resolved first.
Kristopher Rikken