Page 69 - TLÜ aastaaruanne 2014

5.1 DEVELOPING THE UNIVERSITY AS AN ORGANISATION
In 2014, TU passed institutional accreditation, however the main preparations had already been done a year before. Institution- al accreditation is an external evaluation of the compliance of the university management, work organisation, study and research en- vironment, with the legal acts, the university objectives and Develop- ment Plan. On 10 January, the University submitted a self-evaluation report to the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency. On 8-10 April, an assessment committee consisting of the following individ- uals visited TU:
» Professor Malcolm Cook – consultant in the field of higher educa- tion quality assurance; University of Exeter until 2008 (UK)
» Professor Carmen Fenoll - Universidad de Castilla-la Mancha (Spain).
» Professor Andrew Goodspeed – South East European University, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (Macedonia)
» Dr Richard Osborn – WASC Senior College and University Commission, Vice-President (USA)
» Dr Helka Urponen – EU-Mill project coordinator; University of Lapland until 2011 (Finland),
» Karina Ufert – member as a student, Vilnius University (Lithu- ania).
The assessment committee´s timetable included meetings on the topics of university management with the Rectorate members and directors of academic units. On the second day of the visit, the meet- ing with academic staff, students, alumni and partners took place on topics of study and research. The committee also visited Haapsalu College in order to meet local teaching staff, students and coopera- tion partners. On the last working day of the committee, discussions with administrative units were held and the committee was acquaint- ed with the university’s organisation of service to society.
On 9 June, the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency (EKKA) decided, on the basis of the assessment committee’s report, to accredit Tallinn University for a period of seven years and attrib- ute the EKKA quality label to TU. The committee praised the high level of internationalisation of TU, including the large proportion of international teaching staff. Several fields of activity of the uni- versity, such as the specialities of Asian cultural studies, Film, and Educational innovation, are at a high level by international compar- ison. The committee recommended focusing in the coming years on structural changes in order to promote interdisciplinary orientation and guarantee the consistency of high quality study. The committee
also recommended identifying focus fields in research and develop- ment, based on the university’s strengths, and finding ways to involve doctoral students in research groups. The proposals and recommen- dations of the assessment committee were taken into account in com- piling the TU Development Plan, 2015 Action Plan and all action plans for the administrative units.
The year 2014 was important for Tallinn University in setting development goals for the following years and compiling the 2015 – 2020 Development Plan. According to the Rector´s order, the Development Plan was compiled in such a way that it would include the setting of objectives and activities that would facilitate:
» Clearer definition of the university image;
» Internationalisation and increasing interdisciplinary orientation
in the university study, research and development activity;
» Promotion of a quality culture in all fields of activity of the uni-
versity.
The Rector assembled a workgroup for compiling the preliminary version of the Development Plan. The members of the group were: Mati Heidmets, Tõnu Viik, Andres Jõesaar, Tiiu Koff, Aleksander Pulver, Merike Sisask, Eve Eisenschmidt, Enelin Paas and Kätlin Va- nari. The group worked from February to June to further develop the results of discussions that mapped the potential of focus fields and compile the concept of the Development Plan. Alongside the work- group there were also experts from the university as well as external experts who were involved in the discussions of the development courses. The domain councils gave their input to the compilation of the development plan in 2014 as inter-university experts. Also, a series of video interviews (“TU 2020”) was publicised through the university information channels, with university key individuals speaking and describing their vision of the university in the future.
A think-tank on the future development of TU took place on 3 June 2014. Among other things such important topics as structural changes and promotion of research by contemporary research meth- ods, involving and keeping of alumni, and also the motivation of students and university colleagues were discussed. Approximately 60 people, representing most university units, participated in the think- tank organised by Arno Baltin.
On 11 September, the university organised a conference “Tal- linn University 2020 - leadership in intelligent lifestyle”. During the conference, 300 university members and partners were introduced to the development concept focused around applying intelligence in shaping our way of life. At the conference, the university members explained more precisely the exact content of the focus fields de- fined as strategic goals and experts and opinion leaders in their field
67