University of Tartu

The University of Tartu (Estonian: Tartu Ülikool, German: Universität Dorpat) is the national university of Estonia, and the one classical university in Estonia, located in the city of Tartu. The university is a member of the Coimbra Group and was established by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1632.

History

Founded by the Swedes as part of their colonial policy in just-conquered Livonia, the Academia Gustaviana was the second university founded in Swedish-ruled territory, following Uppsala University. A precursor to the academy had been a Jesuit grammar school, existing between 1583 and 1601, when Tartu (Dorpat) was under Polish rule. Struggling until 1710 and being removed to Pärnu in the end, the university was refounded in 1802 by order of the at that time reform-minded Emperor Alexander I, of Russia to which Livonia then belonged.

Related Topics:
Livonia - University - Uppsala University - Jesuit - 1583 - 1601 - Polish - 1710 - Pärnu - 1802 - Emperor - Alexander I

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The language of instruction at Dorpat was German between 1802 and 1893. During that time, Dorpat had a dual nature in that it belonged both to the set of German(-language) and Russian universities. Financially and administratively, the latter was more important; intellectually and regarding the professoriate, the former (over half the professors came from Germany, another third at least were German Balts). In fact, among the 30 German-language universities, of which 23 were inside the German Empire, Dorpat was the 11th in size. In teaching, the university educated the local Baltic-German leadership and professional classes as well as staff especially for the administration and health system of the entire Russian Empire. In scholarship, it was an international university; the time between 1860 and 1880 was its "golden age".

Related Topics:
1802 - 1893 - Germany - German Balts

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The freedom to be a half-German university ceased with the rise of nationalist tendencies in Russia, which held homogenization more important than retaining one university at the international level within the Empire. Between 1882 and 1898, Russification in language, appointments, etc., was imposed, with some exceptions (such as the Divinity School, which was feared to teach dangerous Protestant views by the Orthodox clergy and thus was allowed to continue in German until 1916). In 1898, the university was renamed Jurjev; by then, virtually all distinguished scholars from Germany had left. The University of Juryev existed until 1918, when during part of the Fall Term, it was reopened, under German occupation, as Dorpat. Russian academic staff and students took refuge in Voronezh in Russia, giving rise to the foundation of Voronezh State University, which traces its own history back to the foundation of the University of Tartu and still holds several physical properties of the latter.

Related Topics:
1882 - 1898 - Russification - 1916 - 1918 - Voronezh - Voronezh State University

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In 1919, the University of Tartu was established as an Estonian institution; it stayed open until 1940. In 1940, it became Soviet, and 1941-44, it was again under German occupation and again called Dorpat. Since 1944, it has been the University of Tartu (1940-1941 and 1944-1989 "Tartu State University"). During the second period of Russian (Soviet) occupation (1944-1991), Estonian was the principal language of instruction, although some courses were taught in Russian, and there were several Russian curricula. To a lesser degree, this is still true today, after regaining of Estonian national independence. The full recovery of academic autonomy of the University can be dated to 1992.

Related Topics:
1919 - 1940 - 1944 - 1989 - 1991

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The history of the last decade has been marked by organizational and structural changes, as well as adaptions to various university models (American, Scandinavian, German) against the background of the Soviet and Baltic German past. Most recently and still currently, the University is marked by the peculiar adaption of the Bologna declaration in Estonia generally and Tartu specifically, leading to major changes in curricula and studies, as well as by strong organizational centralization attempts.

Related Topics:
Baltic German - Bologna declaration

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