BOVA University Network's 30th Anniversary Celebration „Role of BOVA universities in supporting a sustainable future in the Baltic region"
The Estonian University of Life Sciences warmly invites colleagues to join us in Tartu on May 5-6, 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BOVA University Network, a network that includes:
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Veterinary Academy
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Please note that places are limited and the deadline for registration is March 31st.
Programme
„Role of BOVA universities in supporting a sustainable future in the Baltic region"
Meeting point: Assembly hall, EMÜ main building, Kreutzwaldi 1A
May 5
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 13.30 - 14.00 | Welcome coffee and registration | |
| 14.00 - 14.05 | Welcome words | Professor Ülle Jaakma, rector of EMÜ |
| 14.05 - 14.25 | BOVA history | Mait Klaassen, former rector of EMÜ, current member of Estonian Parliament |
| 14.25 - 14.45 | 35 years of cooperation: successes and way ahead | Timo Suslov, President of Baltic Assembly |
| 14.45 - 15.05 | BOVA UN as a Catalyst for Institutional Internationalization | Professor Mindaugas Malakauskas, Chancellor of Veterinary Academy, LSMU |
| 15.05 - 15.25 | Science-Driven Dual-Use Innovation for Sustainability | Professor Irina Arhipova, rector of LBTU |
| 15.25 - 15.40 | Coffee break | |
| 15.40 - 16.00 | Academia and industry cooperation at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy | Edvinas Samys, Head of Communication and Technology Transfer Centre, VMU AA |
| 16.00 - 16.45 | Panel discussion "Baltic collaboration as a vehicle for future success" | Mait Klaassen, Timo Suslov, Alvidas Šarlauskas, Irina Arhipova, Edvinas Samys |
| 16.45 - 17.00 | Introduction to NOVA University Network | Ragnheiður Inga Þórarinsdóttir, Rector of Agricultural University of Iceland, NOVA Secretariat |
| 19.00 | Dinner at Ülikooli Kohviklink opens in new page |
May 6
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 9.00 - 9.30 | Keynote speech: "Lessons Learned from Organising BOVA Intensive Courses" | Professor Simon Bell, EMÜ |
| 9.30 - 11.00 | University updates | Representatives of BOVA universities |
| 11.00 - 11.30 | Coffee break | |
| 11.30 - 13.00 | Workshops | |
| 13.00 - 13.30 | Workshop summaries and closing words | |
| 13.30 - 14.30 | Lunch and farewell | |
| 14.30 - | Optional campus tour and meetings |
Workshops on Wednesday, May 6, participants choose one.
Workshop 1
“BOVA in 2050” hosted by LBTU (Dina Popluga together with Vineta Tetere)
Workshop 2
“Why students skip joint BOVA courses — and how microcredentials can fix it” hosted by LSMU
(Chancellor Prof. Mindaugas Malakauskas, Dr. Alvidas Šarlauskas, dr. Tomas Kupčinskas)
Workshop 3
“Student perspective of how BOVA can help with networking. What are the opportunities and what do students really want?” hosted by EMÜ (BOVA coordinator Karoli Kõiv)
Practical information
The programme will take place in assembly hall of the main building of EMÜ at Kreutzwaldi 1A, Tartu.
The participation is free of charge for participants from the BOVA UN universities and invited speakers.
This is why it is very important for you to definitely let us know if anything happens and you can't come after you've registered. Please e-mail us at [email protected] if anything changes.
Photo author: Ireen Trummer
Train
There is a daily train connection between the three Baltic states (Vilnius to Riga to Tallinn via Tartu) and you can buy tickets on the Estonian rail service websitelink opens in new page (you can buy tickets up to 1 week in advance).
Bus
Lux Express buses travel between the Baltics every day, to book tickets, use their websitelink opens in new page.
Flixbus also runs daily, for tickets check here. link opens in new page
Car
Location of EMÜ main buildinglink opens in new page
Location of free parkinglink opens in new page (when entering the parking lot, turn left. The parking lot on the right is a Europark and not free).
Hotel Dorpatlink opens in new page
We have pre-booked 30 rooms in Hotel Dorpat in the centre of Tartu (right next to the bus station).
To book, e-mail [email protected] and mention the code BOVA30 to get the rate 72 EUR/night for standard room / 75 EUR/night for standard double room (single use).
Other suggestions
Hotel Lydialink opens in new page
Bus
You can take bus number 3 or bus number 6 (preferred) directly from the city centre to our campus ("Maaülikool" and "Tartu Näitused" bus stops). You can pay for the bus ticket with your contactless card or phone.
Walk
Our campus is located about a 30-minute walk from the city centre, we recommend you to give it a try, especially the path along the river.
Photo author: Tiia Reisner
Who is this event for?
Participants from all BOVA universities are very welcome to join the event! The aim of the celebration is to bring the network closer and give us the opportunity to meet in person and to take a moment to appreciate the value of our cooperation.
So if you have organised a BOVA course or if you want to organise one or if you are looking for partners for a proposal or you want to learn more about mobility opportunities in our partner universities or want to learn what BOVA universities are up to, please come!
BOVA University Network Meeting in Kaunas, January 2026
BOVA Joint Intensive Courses
One of the main activities of the BOVA University Network is joint intensive Bachelor's and Master's courses.
Here is an overview of courses organised within the network in recent years.
| Course name | Course organiser | Course leader | |
| 1 | Outdoor recreation planning and design | LBTU | Kristine Vugule |
| 2 | Practical technologies for small animal farm systems | LSMU | Elena Bartkiene |
| Course name | Course organiser | Course leader | |
| 1 | Comparative animal welfare and practical assessment | EMÜ | David Arney |
| 2 | New challenges for land administration in post land reform countries | VMU | Audrius Aleknavičius |
| 3 | Sustainable use of natural resources | VMU | Monika Medikienė |
| 4 | Outdoor recreation planning and design | LBTU | Kristine Vugule |
| 5 | Canine and feline dermatology - 360 approach | LSMU | Vita Ambrulaitienė |
| 6 | Sustainable agriculture for rural development | VMU | Bernardas Vaznonis and Anastasija Novikova |
| Course name | Course organiser | Course leader | |
| 1 | Outdoor recreation planning and design | LBTU | Kristine Vugule |
| 2 | Accounting and finance towards sustainability | VMU | Dalia Juočiūnienė |
| 3 | Practical technologies for the small animal farm systems – from animal rearing to production processing | LSMU | Elena Bartkiene |
| 4 | Application of modern technologies in reconstruction of geodetic networks | LBTU | Armands Celms |
| 5 | Management for Business Start-up | VMU | Jan Žukovskis |
| 6 | Sustainable urban planting design | EMÜ | Simon Bell |
| 7 | Bioregions - key to the future | LBTU | Vineta Tetere |
| 8 | Sustainable use of natural resources | VMU | Monika Medikiene |
| Course name | Course organiser | Course leader | |
| 1 | Detective Work: How to Prepare for Veterinary Practice | LSMU | Rasa Adomkienė |
| 2 | Practical technologies for the small animal farm systems – from animal rearing to production processing | LSMU | Dovile Klupsaite |
| 3 | AI in economic modelling | VMU | Vesa Niskanen |
| 4 | Management for business startups | VMU | Jan Žukovskis |
| 5 | Outdoor Recreation Planning and Design | LBTU | Kristine Vugule |
| 6 | Sustainable Urban Planting Design | EMÜ | Simon Bell |
| 7 | Data-driven Land Management for a Sustainable Future | EMÜ | Evelin Jürgenson |
| 8 | Wildlife in closer-to-nature forest management | VMU | Jolanta Stankevičiūtė |
| 9 | Application of Modern Technologies in Land Management and Geospatial Solutions | LBTU | Armands Celms |
Contact us
Karoli Kõiv
Chief Specialist of Foreign Affairs
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs’ area of responsibility
Department of Academic Affairs
+372 7313026
+372 7313026