Tallinn University Researchers, Faculty, and Students Participate in Opinion Festival with 13 Presenters—Voices on Education, Culture, Inclusion, and the Green Transition
On 8–9 August, the Opinion Festival in Paide will feature 13 representatives of Tallinn University, including researchers, faculty, and students, across 11 discussions tackling some of Estonia’s most critical societal issues. The festival brings together experts, politicians, civil society actors, and youth to reflect on our shared future.
The Changing Role of Education and the Impact of Technology
TLU education researchers—Grete Arro (Educational Psychologist, Researcher), Sigrid Aruväli (Head of the Centre for Innovation in Education), Kati Aus (Educational Psychologist, Researcher), Triin Lauri (Associate Professor of Educational Policy), and Maia Lust (Junior Research Fellow)—will explore how learning must evolve: from adult education and feedback culture to restructuring school networks and the applications of artificial intelligence.
For instance, in “AI in the Classroom”, they question whether AI supports or replaces human educators. The conversation “I Want to Learn—Give Me Feedback!” investigates learner-centered assessment. “Are We Really the Dumbest in Järvamaa?” asks why lifelong learning remains mainly in the domain of the young—and how that might change.
Culture for All—not Just a Selected Few
Various TLU scholars engage in discussions about accessibility, diversity, and preservation in culture. Keiu Virro (Junior Research Fellow in Cultural Studies) moderates “Culture for Everyone” and “Is the Future of Culture Hidden in Children?”, focusing on whom culture serves and how to make it more inclusive.
Leen Rahnu (Senior Research Fellow) and Avo‑Rein Tereping (Lecturer in Psychology) explore “How Long Will Estonian Culture Endure If There Are So Few of Us?”, pondering culture’s sustainability amid population decline.
Tiina Pajuste (Professor of International Law and Security) discusses “The UN—is It Hopelessly Broken or Indispensable?”, considering the global legal framework’s workings and Estonia’s place within it.
Integration, Belonging, and Social Cohesion
Who belongs in our society—and who is left behind? Mari‑Liis Jakobson (Associate Professor of Political Sociology), Raivo Vetik (Emeritus Professor, Institute of Social Sciences), and Dmitri Jakunin (Social Work Student) participate in dialogues about immigrant belonging, youth radicalization, and integration experiences. When does a “stranger” become “one of us,” and what does that even mean?
The Green Shift, Services, and the Left Wing
Wider societal themes such as the green transition, public services, and political ideologies are also represented. Professor Anu Realo (Professor of Psychology, Tallinn University & University of Warwick) discusses Estonia’s environmental discourse trajectory, while Leif Kalev (Professor of Political Science) moderates a panel on the same topic.
Ave Laas (Junior Research Fellow) engages in a conversation about equal access to public services in Estonia. Tõnis Saarts (Associate Professor of Comparative Politics) examines why left‑wing ideas struggle for resonance in Estonia—and what this reveals about our political culture.
See more at Opinion Festival website.