The study area of political science, governance and international relations is a study, research and development center with one of the longest traditions in Estonia in their field. Our core values are academicism, spiritual independence, professionalism, innovation, reliability, openness and effectiveness. 

We see politics and governance in synergy and in relation to the international, legal, economic and social context. Our common interest focuses on countries, politics and governance in a changing world. The emphasis in political science is on the organization and design of state and local government institutions, political scientists on citizenship, migration, integration and the quality of democracy, security and vulnerability of democracy are at the heart of international relations.

We have both Estonian and English curricula at all study levels. All curricula have been accredited for a long time and our people have also been evaluating the quality of professional curricula in other countries. Check out the curricula.

contact:

Head of study area: Raivo Vetik, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Politics
E-mail:  Raivo.Vetik@tlu.ee

Study and research activities of the study area of Social Protection focus on the development of the social work profession in the context of the promotion of knowledge, skills and values. Social work curricula are interdisciplinary, using a multidisciplinary approach to knowledge, valuing trust and partnership with the client, developing innovative and effective solutions to social problems, and addressing the theoretical approaches and skills needed in today's social work and research.

The research and development activities of the direction focus on various topics related to key areas of social protection - professional development and professionalism of social workers, social protection and social policy in Estonia and Europe, elderly policy and gerontological social work, child welfare and child protection, deinstitutionalisation and community work. 

contact:

Head of study area: Karmen Toros, Professor of Social Work
E-mail: Karmen.Toros@tlu.ee

teaching and research activities of the study area of sociology focus on the further development of existing research traditions in various fields of sociology. Key research topics include education and youth research, the labor market, civil society, gender research, social stratification and mobility, housing strategies, the impact of multiculturalism and inequality on ethnic cohesion, perceptions of justice, the role of institutions and policies (including the welfare state).

A wide range of topics offers the opportunity for an interdisciplinary approach. The sectoral competence involved in the research is focused on international and comparative research, which makes it possible to achieve a result that meets Estonia's needs and takes into account international experience. The research and development activities of the direction are closely connected with the largest sociological research center in Estonia - Institute of International Social Studies.

Researchers and lecturers of the academic area are involved in several international and Estonian research and development projects.

contact:

Head of study area:  Triin Roosalu, Associate Professor of Sociology
E-mail: triin.roosalu@tlu.ee

The study area of political science, governance and international relations is a study, research and development center with one of the longest traditions in Estonia in their field. Our core values are academicism, spiritual independence, professionalism, innovation, reliability, openness and effectiveness. 

We see politics and governance in synergy and in relation to the international, legal, economic and social context. Our common interest focuses on countries, politics and governance in a changing world. The emphasis in political science is on the organization and design of state and local government institutions, political scientists on citizenship, migration, integration and the quality of democracy, security and vulnerability of democracy are at the heart of international relations.

We have both Estonian and English curricula at all study levels. All curricula have been accredited for a long time and our people have also been evaluating the quality of professional curricula in other countries. Check out the curricula.

contact:

Head of study area: Associate Professor of International Relations Birgit Poopuu
E-mail:  birgit.poopuu@tlu.ee

Law study area focuses on national, international, European and human rights research. The promotion of teaching and research is based on the premise that legal education plays a decisive role in national legal policy, as legal education prepares specialists both for the application of applicable law and for perceiving and changing the legal space based on social needs. The academic direction is based on the requirement of science-based teaching, which requires participation in the development of practical legal policy and in international research networks.

In the study area, studies are conducted in Bachelor's and Master's curricula in Estonian and English. English-language curricula include studies in Tallinn.

contact:

Head of study area: Lehte Roots, Visiting Professor of International Law
E-mail: lehte.roots@tlu.ee

The Estonian Institute for Population Studies combines research and training in core demography. The Institute was established in 2015, based on the TU Institute of Population studies, its predecessor Chair of Demography (est. 1994) and the Estonian Interuniversity Population Research Centre (est. 1986) (www.popest.ee). The development of the Institute follows the concept of a national population research institution (NPI) scaled to a small country. It performs a role of a country leading unit in the field of demography.

The mission of the Institute is to monitor, analyse and project the existing and emerging trends that shape the demographic foundation of a society. The Institute also contributes to the development of a national system of population and social statistics, in cooperation with the Statistics Estonia and other institutions. It develops curricula, provides a research environment for doctoral students and offers courses in demography at the undergraduate level.

Contact us:

Tallinn University Estonian Institute for Population Studies
Uus-Sadama 5, Room M-553
Tallinn 10120
Estonia

Phone: (+372) 6454125

E-mail: ekdk@tlu.ee

Mailing address: P.O. Box 3012, 10504 Tallinn, Estonia

Facebook: www.facebook.com/estpop
Twitter: www.twitter.com/estpop

The Institute of International Social Studies (IISS) is an interdisciplinary research and development institute in Tallinn University. Activities of IISS include the implementation of scientific projects.

IISS participates in numerous local and international research projects. Research fellows of IISS participate as experts in public discussion and as evaluators in policy planning.

Studies and research are well integrated; the teaching staff consists of specialists who teach subjects well-known to them through their research projects, and all of the students of IISS are offered the possibility of participating in these projects.

The Institute of International and Social Studies was established on 4th October 1988 as the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, uniting the workgroups of the former Institute of History and Institute of Economy of the Academy of Sciences.

In 2008, two formerly independent establishments merged with IISS – the Chair of Social Sciences of the Estonian Institute of Humanities and the Department of Sociology of the Social Sciences Faculty. Today, in addition to research activities, IISS offered till 2015 both graduate and postgraduate education in sociology. Since September 2015, IISS has undergone structural reform and concentrates on research activities.

From previous projects, most important are the 6th framework project “Towards a Lifelong Learning Society in Europe: the Contribution of the Education System” (LLL2010) and Horizon 2020 project „Social Exclusion of Youth in Europe: Cumulative Disadvantage, Coping Strategies, Effective Policies and Transfer (EXCEPT)“. Both mentioned projects were led by professors of TLU IISS: Prof. Ellu Saar coordinated the project LLL2010 leading a consotrium of 13 countries; EXCEPT, involving 10 partners, was coordinated by Prof. Marge Unt.

Currently IISS is a partner in four Horizon 2020 projects (ENLIVEN, ECDP, PLUS and TECHNEQUALITY) and is also involved in several other research projects funded by COST, Estonian Research Council etc.

Together with School of Governance, Law and Society IISS publishes the open-access interdisciplinary journal "Studies of Transition States and Societies".

Contact us:

Tallinn University Institute of International Social Studies
Uus-Sadama 5
10120 Tallinn
Estonia

Phone: +372 619 860
E-mail: rasi@tlu.ee