Estonia’s Oldest University of Applied Sciences Presented Recognitions at Its Anniversary Ceremony

Today, on 19 November, Estonia’s oldest university of applied sciences, Tartu Applied Health Sciences University, celebrates its 214th anniversary.

“The anniversary of the university allows us to recognise outstanding achievements, colleagues, and learners,” said Rector of Tartu Applied Health Sciences University, Ulla Preeden. “At the same time, it is clearly evident that the role of universities of applied sciences in both Estonia and Europe has grown year by year. We can serve as a bridge between high-quality, skills-based education, including collaboration with vocational schools and upper secondary education, and the development of high-quality applied research. These knowledge- and skills-driven worlds and the best sectoral competencies meet precisely in a university of applied sciences.”

During the ceremony, the university announced its 18th Honorary Member: Steven Onkelinx, a long-standing cooperation partner of Tartu Applied Health Sciences University, lecturer at Fontys Applied Science University, and President of ENPHE – the European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education – for his remarkable contribution to advancing the university’s international collaboration and the development of the physiotherapy field.

Several awards were also presented. The Learning Achievement of the Year is the launch of the international Master’s programme in Physiotherapy and the development and implementation of joint courses in cooperation with the international Master’s curriculum in Radiography, award recipients: Principal Lecturers Eva Mengel and Siret Kivistik, as well as the programme teams of Physiotherapy and Radiography. The Research Achievement of 2025 is the publication of the university’s first scientific journal Terves Kehas Terve Teadmine, award recipients Jaan Looga, Steven Onkelinx, Anna-Liisa Tamm, Merle Varik, and Ülle Parm.

The Community Service Achievement of the Year 2025 is the development of fee-based services within curricula: the podiatry and massage programmes have successfully provided sustainable support for people’s health and well-being through paid services, award recipients Lead Teachers Maria Suits and Aleksandra Vähi, and the programme teams of Podologist and Masseur. The Communication Achievement of the Year is the renewal of the university’s international name and domain, which has significantly increased the institution’s visibility and competitiveness in the international education landscape. As of this year, the university is known by the new English-language name Tartu Applied Health Sciences University and can be found online at tartuh.ee, award recepients Jaanika Niinepuu and IT team.

In addition, the Teacher of the Year, Students of the Year at both higher education and vocational levels, the Contributor of the Year, and the Colleague of the Year were announced. Long-service awards and letters of appreciation were presented. Playtech Estonia, the largest software company in Estonia, also awarded scholarships to five nursing students to support motivated and high-achieving learners in their studies and community engagement, and to raise interest in health sciences education.

Tartu Applied Health Sciences University is a nationally and internationally recognised higher education institution and a centre of excellence in health and well-being. The university offers applied higher education in nursing, midwifery, radiography, environmental health, physiotherapy, and biomedical laboratory science. Vocational education is provided in podologist, masseur, emergency medical technician, care worker, client worker for people with mental health problems, and childminder. Master’s-level studies are offered in health sciences and radiography, and from January 2025 also in physiotherapy.