Tartu World University

There are problems that can benefit from science, common values, and prejudice-free exchange of ideas. For this very reason community academies and local people will be joined by scientists and artists with a broad outlook and an open mind. Like a tsunami of positivity, the experiences of these people will bring inspiration to South Estonia.

The events of community academies are unfolding in a total of 13 communities in Southern Estonia in the years 2023-2024, welcoming both local residents as well as all other Estonians and the ones visiting Estonia. Discussion days, brainstorming sessions, conferences, and roundtable discussions are led by local people from children to the elderly. Different target groups get inspired by different aspects of the same issue, and we will be opening up all of them. We will aim for critical awareness. Hope you’ll join us.

No one comes to the World University to simply listen, but to speak up and participate. Together we will learn about the heritage of the region and get to be part of the special characteristics of the community. We encourage all world-changers to seek local solutions to global problems and vice versa!

Inspiring venues fuel the participants’ intellectual journeys – whether it’s the organic festival in Ööbikuorg, the experiential festival in Maarja village, a conference in Setomaa, in the border town of Valga or in Mulgimaa, brainstorming sessions of the community school near the Latvian border, a dialogue evening on the shores of Lake Peipus, or a movement festival in Elva.

We aim to create long-term plans for the benefit of the community to preserve as well as renew the culture and distinctiveness of South Estonia. By fostering collective synergy, solutions will be found for the problems that benefit from the assistance of science and the search for common values. Through our story and values, this region will make it to the consciousness of both Estonian and European cultural tourists as a place to be. We will retain the identity of South Estonians, or “Hindätiidmine” as they call it.