Page 45 - TLÜ aastaaruanne 2014

» The most popular member of teaching staff in the field of health is Koidu Saia, a lecturer in the Institute of Social Work.
3.3 ACTIVITIES TARGETED AT THE STUDENTS
The Student Union started discussions and preparations for changing the Student Union structure arising from the reorganisation of TU academic structure.
In 2014, yet another Green Week took place that was full of various events (photo competition, competitive games, film evening, think tanks, etc.) popularizing a green and healthy lifestyle among 400 par- ticipants. The TU Student Research Week for popularizing research took place in March 2014. Approximately 300-400 students, univer- sity employees and visitors from outside the university participated in the lectures and workshops organised in the framework of the Research Week. During the December examination session, the Stu- dent Union organised the All-Nighter campaign to encourage stu- dents to study at the library. During the campaign information was provided on referencing and more effective learning. Approximately 250 students participated in the campaign. The Student Union has participated in several international events to exchange experience and create contacts, among these being the UNICA Student Confer- ence 2014 in Switzerland, the Baltic Organisational Meeting (BOM) in Latvia, and the Nordiskt Ordförande Møte (network of Nordic and Baltic student unions) in Sweden.
In cooperation with Dormitorium NPO, a project was initiated for utilizing the unused sauna in the Västriku dormitory. By the end of 2014, the sauna and corresponding rooms were repaired and opened to students and employees.
The Student Union expanded in 2014 by the addition of two new clubs. The TU Debate Club holds training sessions three times a week in Estonian, Russian and English. The Debate Club has organised and participated in international debate tournaments. The Tallinn University Student Theatre (TYYT) was established; its members also organise training sessions in addition to rehearsing plays. In spring, the Representative Team of TU was created with an aim to offer output for students who wish to represent Tallinn University in educational fairs in Estonia, introduce TU study opportunities in general education schools and help in events introducing the study opportunities that take place at the university.
For the first time, a feedback questionnaire related to the quality of studies involving student councils of several institutes was organ- ised and initiated in the field of education. The survey is being con- ducted by way of interviewing students from different institutes. The
survey treats more general higher education topics, but also deals with the teaching skills of the teaching staff of the institute and the content of courses. The student councils of approximately 15 insti- tutes started the survey, which will be ready by the end of spring se- mester 2015.
3.4 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
IThe legal acts of university personnel activity were revised and amended in the areas of remuneration and employment relations. The new redaction of the Employment Relations Rules entered into force on 01.05.2014, and regulates the concept of remuneration, components of pay and principles of their determination, the rights of making remuneration decisions and work organisation in remu- neration. Compilation of the new regulation is related to one of the priorities of the 2009-2014 development plan: develop salary policy based on contribution and competitive remuneration. The amend- ments to the regulations pursued the principles of remuneration pol- icy approved by the Salary Committee at the end of 2013. The regula- tion established the new division of non-academic employment po- sitions developed in 2013, which enables comparison and analyses of employment positions of similar complexity. The supervision of the whole remuneration field, including the making of remuneration de- cisions, was transferred to the Personnel Office. The conditions and procedures for payment of research performance pay were revised pursuant to the regulations, and the conditions and procedures for payment of research performance pay for Open University employ- ees were established. In December 2014, an amendment proposed by the Salary Committee to the Employment Relations Rules was approved whereby as of 01.01.2015, the base rates of salary grades for non-academic employment positions were increased approximately by 10% (as of 14.11.2014 this involved 65.75 employment positions with active employment contracts in 15 structural units). Amend- ments were made to the Employment Relations Rules pursuant to the Universities Act and amendments to the Research and Development Regulations in regard to the provisions regulating employment rela- tions of academic employees that entered into force on 01.01.2015. Commencing now, employment contracts for academic employees will generally be concluded for an unspecified term and conclusion of fixed-term employment contracts will be allowed where the nature of work is temporary. Also, the requirement for at least one attesta- tion in every five working years for a member of the regular teaching and research staff was prescribed. The Employment Relations Rules
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