Topic: international

Welcome to the TUNE Intensive Week at UT Viljandi Culture Academy in Estonia, taking place from 16 to 20 March 2026.

The biennial intensive course of Norteas (Nordplus network of Nordic and Baltic Performing Arts institutions in higher education) focuses on an important topic in society or theatre studies. This year, the course took place in Viljandi from 25 to 29 August and focused on artistic research and its application in undergraduate studies. The course consisted of two parallel programmes: the first introduced students to different artistic research practices, while the second focused on the nature of artistic research and its application in theatre studies. The morning opening lectures and student workshops were conducted by creative studies practitioners from near and far: actress Oo Condit (Finland), dramaturg Janis Balodis (Latvia) and artist Urmas Lüüs (Estonia). The faculty programme was curated by Davide Giovanzana from the University of Tampere and Liina Unt from the UT Viljandi Cultural Academy. Taavet Jansen and Ave Matsin, lecturers at the Culture Academy, participated as guests, and a somatic workshop was conducted by Joanna Kalm, PhD student at the Estonian Academy of Arts. The faculty programme culminated in a mapping of artistic research practices at Sammuli Holiday Village, while the students' programme included mini-performances and performances at the Academy' Vilma building. Although it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions, it can be said that artistic research plays an important role in undergraduate education. Firstly, it provides a bridge to the next levels of study, where artistic studies are already well established.Secondly, artistic research allows the student to look at and develop their own practice from the side, which increases the learner's responsibility for developing their skills. Thirdly, it is worthwhile to look at practices in other fields when developing artistic research methodologies in theatre studies. The course was organised in Viljandi by Lennart Peep, Ele Viskus, Evelin Lagle-Nõmm and Krista Tamm. An international team comprising of Davide Giovanzana (Tampere University), Ele Viskus (UT Viljandi Culture Academy), Kārlis Krūmiņš (Latvian Academy of Culture), Lennart Peep (UT Viljandi Culture Academy) and Stacey Sacks (Stockholm University of the Arts) helped to develop the content and conduct the on-site teaching. The course was funded by the Nordplus Higher Education Programme.

International cooperation networks

Thirty-four teachers from Ireland, Spain and Estonia participated in the "Digital Skills for Music Teachers" continuing education course.

From 13 April until the end of May, we at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy were again proud to be part of a bilateral Estonian-French exchange, under the “Technicians Without Frontiers” collaboration agreement. This third volume of the Erasmus+ blended traineeship programme offered four of our students a unique opportunity to gain experience in French performing arts institutions, while their French counterparts were welcomed into Estonian theatres.

On October 1-5, 2024, heritage enthusiasts in Viljandi will join forces with the Tartu 2024 program to bring to life the Viljandi Heritage Festival!

Join us for a Virtual Open Day where we will cover the admission process, important deadlines, English requirements, student life and much more for 2024 applicants.

Have you considered continuing your studies here after you graduate from your home university? We invite you to discover what the Master’s programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities have to offer.

From 1 to 5 October 2024, Viljandi is organizing the Viljandi Heritage Festival which belongs to the Tartu 2024 program, taking place at the Estonian Traditional Music Centre and its surroundings.

On 27 June, the global higher education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) launched its World University Rankings 2024, adopting a methodology that has undergone considerable change. The University of Tartu is ranked 358th and again tops the list of Estonian universities.