Tõnu Viik

VISION

To keep up with the times, a university must remember and bear in mind its main historical goal: maintaining the flame of academic spirit. A university’s unique atmosphere, structure, work principles and its core value for its staff and students and society all stem from this goal. Academic spirit means striving for truth and knowledge that give us the best possible understanding of reality that our current research potential can offer. It stands for a thirst for knowledge, unbiased inquiry, intellectual discourse and fact-based explanations. It requires both aligning ourselves with the demanding international scientific research norms and dedicating ourselves to topics that are of key importance for the Estonian society.

As rector, I plan to strive to achieve the following:

Knowledge-based society

Knowledge-based society
Bringing academic spirit, fact-based thinking and smart solutions into the public sphere is more important to Estonia than ever before. In a technologically, economically, culturally and politically interwoven world, the well-being of a nation increasingly depends on its ability to apply science-based and innovative decisions. Tallinn University must become a recognised and valued contributor to transforming the Estonian way of life into a science-based one in all research fields, but most importantly in matters concerning:

  •     educational innovation;
  •     social cohesion and multilingualism;
  •     the fostering of the Estonian language and culture;
  •     green living and sustainable lifestyles

To achieve these goals we must learn to more effectively integrate our main activities (teaching and research) with the needs of the society. Not only must we go along with the digital revolution, but also make it work for us in order to become the driving force of the digital revolution in education in Estonia.

Quality of higher education

The university’s commitment to its students means supporting them in becoming the standard-bearers of the academic culture and spirit. The study process must be inspiring, motivating and of course demanding of both students and lecturers. Studying at the university must be a life- and personality-changing experience for students. Teaching must be an increasingly effective outlet for lecturers to develop their research projects and both confirm and interpret their results.

In order to change the study processes so that they conform to social expectations, we must decide what implementing flexible and individual studies means in the context of Tallinn University and how to shape the skills of 21st-century individuals in such a way that they develop professional, social and emotional skills alike. We must find an effective way of working with students who are already employed or who require assistance in regard to their self-discipline and time-management skills.

Tallinn University is an organisation which empowers its members

First and foremost, a university is a community of scholars devoted to the search for truth and knowledge whose task is to preserve academic culture and values and pass them on to their students and society. The goal of the team led by the rector is to make sure that the university as an organisation and institution enables and supports such dedication in the best way possible. In order to do this we must expand and diversify the university’s finance base. Leadership of the university must empower all of its members and involve different parties. Tallinn University must be a place where people want to work and study.

Curriculum vitae

Born on July 12, 1968 in Jõhvi.

EDUCATION

1998–2003 Emory University, Atlanta  PhD (2003)
2001–2002 Humboldt Universität Berlin (Emory scholar)
2000–2001 Philipps Universität Marburg (Emory scholar)
1997–1998 University of Helsinki (SIMO scholar)
1986–1993 Moscow State University (diploma studies 5 years) Diploma (1993)
1978–1986 Nõmme Gymnasium
1975–1978 Jõhvi Gymnasium

CAREER

2020–… Tallinn University Professor of Philosophy
2015–2020 Tallinn University School of Humanities Director
2014–2015 Tallinn University Estonian Institute of Humanities Director
2007–2015 Tallinn University Estonian Institute of Humanities Professor of Philosophy
2004–2007 Estonian Institute of Humanities Rector
2003–2004 Estonian Institute of Humanities Professor of Philosophy
2002–2003 Lecturer – Emory University (Atlanta) 
1999–2000 Study Assistent – Emory University (Atlanta)
1994–1998 Lecturer at the Estonian Institute of Humanities
1993–1994 Lecturer at the Tallinn University of Technology 

 

See Tõnu Viik's more detailed CV  

 

Candidates' thoughts

Written answer: What is the greatest strength of Tallinn University?

 

The strength of a manufacturing company can be found in the ratio of how good the production is and how cheap the production is. In this case of university, such thinking cannot be applied, because our goal is the people themselves - those who would be classified as production costs in the case of a manufacturing company.

In the interests of the university, the prosperity of its employees is not important for optimising production costs, but to unleash the scientific and teaching potential of the scholars working here. That is the main goal for the university. The university’s strength is its people, their capabilities and realisation of these capabilities.

People’s abilities and strength do not only depend on their individual abilities and will to act. While working as a Director of the School of Humanities, I came to a conclusion that the capacity of an organisation is the multiplication of the professional strength of people, the relationships that unite them and what they are capable of together as a unit.

I would even say that professionally very good people in very bad relationships end up performing worse than average good people in very good relationships. Consequently, how we are together and how we can be together is one of the key factors in our strength, in addition to capturing and retaining talent.

We also have one hidden strength. I think that the real capacity of Tallinn University is greater than our reputation in Estonia. We have the necessary tools to improve our reputation, we don’t have to “sell air” for that.

Written answer: What is your dream university like?

My goal for Tallinn University is to become a place, where one wants to be and where one wants to come to. 

But what is this “place” and what is, that it does to us? This place brings people and things closer together and allows things and people to be together in a certain way. It makes them a part of our lives. Home, for example, connects the things close to us and necessary for everyday life into one community, into togetherness. This combination is necessary, but it can also be fun and rewarding. Or it can be uncomfortable and annoying, even unpleasant. In the latter case, you may not want to go home, although you must.

In what case would the university be a place where I would really like to come, where I would really like to study, do science and teach? Probably when this joy of people and togetherness makes us happy. This happens, if this combination supports studying and working as well as possible. As with home, people and their attitudes are decisive. It is not that I do not want to go to a small apartment with worn-out furniture when people there are waiting and loving me, but really want to go to an apartment that is expensive and modern furnished, but human relations are exhausting.

It is the human relationships that determine the nature of coexistence, its atmosphere and quality. Of course, in addition there must me things - roof over your head and tools - just like the kitchen with pots and pans in it. But these things can also be worn out. Relationships yet, can't. I dream of a university that offers the joy of meeting and working with others, the joy of knowing and discovering; the feeling that I am happy to teach our students and to work with colleagues. And that I have time to notice them all. That I have time to spend time with them.