International collaboration
The university's driving force for development is internationally competitive research and development activities, which form the foundation of teaching at all levels of higher education and contribute to societal development within its areas of responsibility.
International cooperation is an integral and daily part of the university. It includes student and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, and development cooperation.
To promote international collaboration, the university is a member of several important networks.
The necessity of cooperation for the university can be compared to the circulatory system
"It delivers the necessary oxygen to every cell and carries information about what is happening in the body. The university's research and teaching must operate within a free global exchange of knowledge and collaboration. We need cooperation to better understand major challenges and find solutions to them"
Ülle Jaakma
rector
Many international cooperation projects are underway at the level of academic departments or research groups. For the university community, this means participating in numerous international conferences, seminars, and courses, as well as doctoral schools and research projects. More detailed information can be found on the department websites.
A significant part of international research and development cooperation takes place within professional networks. For example, we are part of the global network of data centers, universities, and other research institutions, DataCitelink opens in new page; the European network for sustainability research, The European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR)link opens in new page; and the European university network AlterNetlink opens in new page, which focuses on environmental change and biodiversity. Additionally, we are members of the European Forest Institutelink opens in new page (EFI) and the International Union of Forest Research Organizationslink opens in new page (IUFRO), among others.
The promotion of international cooperation is strongly supported by various funds and financing measures, such as the Nordic Council of Ministers, European Commission programs (COST, Horizon 2020), the EU-funded Interreg program, and the EEA Baltic Research Programme. These funding opportunities enable researchers to engage in broad and productive collaboration with research and development institutions both within the European Union and worldwide
Our university also participates in several development cooperation projects funded by various programs, where we share our knowledge and expertise with other countries. This allows us to contribute to the development of their education, research management, and entrepreneurship.
For example, through joint projects, we support Ukraine's rural economic development. In the past, we have collaborated with Romania to develop cooperative leadership, supported women's entrepreneurship in Moldova, and contributed to the teaching of agricultural economics, among other initiatives
International Education and Research
The strong international standing of the Estonian University of Life Sciences is reflected in its ranking among the world's top universities for agriculture and forestry education (45th position, QS Ranking by Subject, 2024).
Internationalization is supported by both student and researcher mobility. Various mobility grants and programs play a key role in this, with the university having over 100 Erasmus agreements with universities worldwide. Within the European Erasmus program, in 2023, we sent 38 faculty members or administrative staff on short-term study visits to foreign universities and hosted 24 colleagues in Tartu. Through the global Erasmus program, we welcomed a total of 10 visiting lecturers in 2023.
Visiting professors and researchers bring new expertise to both teaching and research, offering fresh perspectives on the university's activities. They also open doors to new international networks and knowledge from around the world.
Student mobility is undoubtedly a crucial aspect of internationalization. The university offers English-language instruction in one integrated and three master's programs. Additionally, all doctoral programs are available in English. As of February 2025, a total of 289 international students from 40 countries are enrolled in various programs, along with 45 exchange students from 18 countries
University networks
The Estonian University of Life Sciences participates in several international networks that bring together universities from specific regions (BUP, and through the Rector's Council, the European University Alliance EUAlink opens in new page) as well as universities specializing in life sciences (ELLS, ICA, BOVA-NOVA).
BUP - Baltic University Programme
Baltic University Programme is one of the largest university networks in the world, with over 110 universities from the Baltic Sea region collaborating on education and research in the fields of sustainable development and democracy.
The network promotes knowledge and cooperation in the areas of sustainable development and education for sustainable development (ESD).
The aim of the network is to support the creation of strong regional educational and research communities, as well as organizing academic events for students.
ELLS - Euroleague for Life Sciences
Euroleague for Life Sciences is a prestigious network of universities that collaborate in the fields of natural resource management, agricultural and forestry sciences, biosciences, animal sciences, food sciences, environmental sciences, and rural development, including agricultural economics and rural sociology.
Representatives of the Estonian University of Life Sciences participate in nearly all of the network's working groups.
The network includes 12 leading European life sciences universities, with two additional universities from other parts of the world as partners.
ICA - Association for European Life Science Universities
The Association for European Life Science Universities brings together universities that are engaged in circular bioeconomy, sustainable use of natural resources, environmental protection, and rural development.
The network's goal is to enhance the success of its members in education, research, and innovation for sustainable bioeconomy and society by collaborating with European and global institutions and networks to share experiences, collaborate on new ventures, and benefit from the resulting synergies.
BOVA University Network
The BOVA University Network brings together universities from the Baltic States that specialize in agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, and related fields, promoting collaboration between them.
In addition to the Estonian University of Life Sciences, BOVA members include the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Agriculture (VMU-AA) from Lithuania, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Academy of Veterinary Medicine (LSMU-VA).
In addition to BOVA, the NOVA networklink opens in new page operates, bringing together Nordic universities focused on forestry, veterinary medicine, and agriculture
