Tartu, second largest city of Estonia, hosts the countries largest university with about 18.000 students in eleven faculties. The University of Tartu was founded in 1632 by King Gustavus Adolphus as the second Swedish university, refounded in 1802 as the Imperial Russian University of Dorpat, which made great contribution to the development of natural and medical sciences, and in the year 1919 the University of Tartu opened as the first Estonian-language university. This history may explain the strong international orientation and the ability in combining tradition and innovation as an international research university. The most remarkable recent research achievements have been for instance in molecular and cell biology, gene technology, immunology and laser medicine. Today, the university plays a central role not only in the Estonian science, but in the social-economic development of the region and Estonia altogether.

The liberation from the Soviet Unions suppression in 1991 freed social, economic and cultural power and entrepreneurial initiative. Until the late 1990s entrepreneurship-related subjects were organized and taught chiefly by foreign experts and financed by foreign funds, mainly by the EU. Many of these courses by external experts taught consultants as stakeholders from Estonia to gain momentum in entrepreneurial action and to disseminate entrepreneurship education throughout the education system at the same time. Today entrepreneurship courses are being offered in many variations.

For instance, University of Tartu created a “Master in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management”, offered since 2003/2004. The University has adopted the curricular system of Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. since 2002. This structural and curricular change went alongside the innovation of teaching methods towards entrepreneurial methods, like the use of case studies, experience exchange within the classroom, team work, simulation games, internships or applied research which keeps an eye on business creation from such knowledge.

Co-operating partner unit in BEPART is the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration together with its Centre for Entrepreneurship, which is a separate faculty unit founded in the year 2003. Basic ideas for BEPART co-operation are to better solve the challenges as to pedagogical skills, curricular innovations and establishing incubators for biotech companies, and finally to find long-term partnerships for international courses in entrepreneurship.

Responsible local project manager and contact-person:
Tönis Mets, Ph.D.

University of Tartu
Faculty of Economics & Business Admin./
Centre for Entrepreneurship
Narva Road 4 – B104
EE 50404 Tartu

Web: http://www.ut.ee/

Tönis Mets

Phone +372-737 63 62
Fax +372-737 63 12
tonis.mets@mtk.ut.ee