On 27 May the Chairman of the Board, Ahto Orav from Audentes University and the Rector of Tallinn University of Technology Peep Sürje will sign a merger agreement between International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology.

In the process of merging International University Audentes will become a unit of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of TUT which will continue its activities under the current name and in current premises until the end of the academic year 2008/2009.

According to Peep Sürje, the Rector of Tallinn University of Technology, both universities will benefit from the merger. “Audentes has very good experience in providing international studies, TUT has the necessary stability and conditions for research activities to ensure the quality of higher education. Together the two universities can create a solid international study centre that would be competitive in all Europe,” Sürje said. 

The Chairman of the Board of Audentes, Ahto Orav stated that in order to be successful in the common European educational landscape Estonian universities, irrespective of their orientation and ownership, have to join forces. “Today our goal has to be international recognition and accreditation. Co-operation between universities is one of the main requirements for achieving that goal” Ahto Orav stated.

The date of merger between IUA and TUT will be 30 June 2008. Audentes will pass on all employment contracts, services contracts, authorisation agreements and study contracts to TUT.

During the current and the following academic years, International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology continue to operate on the basis of currently effective terms and conditions and in accordance with the current procedures.

The academic activities of both universities will be carried out in their present buildings, in all academic fields, forms and languages. Admission to the academic year 2008/2009 will also continue on the basis of current terms and conditions and all the previously planned events will take place.

The merger of IUA and TSEBA is an important step for both parties. This contributes to improving the quality of higher education and establishing an integral and internationally competitive environment of higher education in As the number of students decreases (the number of secondary school graduates will decrease by 40% within the next 3 years) and higher education requirements become stricter, it becomes more and more complicated for IUA to ensure sustainability of high-quality educational, scientific, and development activities while operating on its own. Tallinn School of Economics and Business Administration (TSEBA) gains particularly from new specializations, an increase in the volume of international studies, and a guarantee of quality thereof. Cooperation with another higher educational establishment, regardless of the form of ownership thereof, is today supported and necessary in every respect.

As for their aims and nature, TSEBA and IUA are very similar. Both have established their aim to be of high international reputation and recognition; both universities already have a considerable number of foreign students and an international curriculum; most of the students of both TSEBA as well as of IUA study for a fee; the tuition fees are comparable, however, at present a bit lower at IUA. All the similar characteristics provide good conditions for a smooth merger of activities of the two universities and creation of momentum.

Students and lecturers as well as the staff will gain from the merger as it provides them with wider options. The students can choose between a larger number of subjects and lecturers. The students of IUA can participate in lectures and seminars of the Faculty of TSEBA, use the TUT library, and other benefits offered to TUT students and vice versa. The lecturers will find better conditions and opportunities for research as regards financing, offers, as well as research groups. The personnel will have wider opportunities for development and self-realisation in the large structure.

International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology started joining negotiations

Today, on 23 April the chairman of the board, Ahto Orav, from Audentes University, and rector of Tallinn University of Technology Peep Sürje signed a preliminary agreement for the preparation of the joining of International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology. The plan is to reach the final joining agreement before the end of 2007/2008 academic year.

After signing the preliminary agreement the parties will start negotiations for the preparation of the principles and conditions of the joining of universities. All the agreements concerning the joining will be included in the joining agreement, which is planned to be concluded before the end of the 2007/2008 academic year. The expected result of the negotiations is the joining of academic activities in the areas of law, business management and international relations.

According to Peep Sürje, rector of Tallinn University of Technology, the joining of International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology  is an important step in the creation of a cohesive higher education environment in Estonia. Rector Sürje, “The joining enables the business branches to create a solid international study centre and considerably expand the study and research opportunities in economics as well as international relations”

The chairman of the board of Audentes, Ahto Orav, emphasised the former cooperation of the public and private higher education institutions for the improvement of the quality and diversification of higher education. “The joining offers wider development perspectives for students as well as lecturers and better opportunities for studies and research”, explains Orav.

Closer cooperation between International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology started in the law branch in August 2006. In April this year the cooperation agreement was renewed to also cover business management and international relations and new association negotiations were started.

During this and the following academic year, International University Audentes and Tallinn University of Technology  continue to operate on the currently effective terms and conditions and in accordance with the current procedure. The study activities of both universities continue in the present study buildings, in all academic branches, forms and languages. Admission to the following 2008/2009 academic year will also continue on the current terms and conditions and all the previously planned events will take place. In connection with the branch of physical exercise and sports, Audentes has started negotiations with various potential cooperation partners, because Tallinn University of Technology does not have this branch.

Tallinn University of Technology and International University Audentes have signed a memorandum to expand cooperation in the field of international education, research and development.

Today on the 7^th of April the Rectors of Tallinn University of Technology and International University Audentes signed a cooperation memorandum to begin negotiations to expand cooperation in the field of international education, research and development.

Peep Sürje, the Rector of Tallinn University of Technology, said at the signing, that the cooperation with Interational University Audentes in law studies, that begun in 2006, has been good.  “Therefore we wish to expand cooperation to economic science and international relations study programs and help raise the quality of Estonian university education and sustainability of higher education,” added Sürje.

According to Peeter Müürsepp, the Acting Rector of International University Audentes, cooperation of the public and private sectors of higher education is necessary. “Denser joint action in raising the quality of higher education and the proportion of international education is important to both parties,” added Müürsepp.

With the cooperation memorandum Tallinn University of Technology and International University Audentes wish to aid the creation of a complete and competitive Estonian field of higher education. The memorandum is a next step to a joint action protocol signed in 2006 to begin mutually beneficial cooperation in law studies.