On Friday, 21 November, the British Ambassador to Estonia, Ross Allen, visited the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Ambassador Allen showed interest in the University’s teaching and research activities in the field of the bioeconomy.
During his meeting with Rector Ülle Jaakma, the discussion focused on the University’s research and academic work both on campus and at its research stations. Ross Allen inquired about the English-taught study programmes. He was particularly interested in the veterinary medicine curriculum, where the students come from, and what career paths they pursue after graduation. An engaging discussion also developed around the relationship between climate scepticism and the deep appreciation of nature among Estonians, as well as the University’s role in this context.
Following the meeting at the Rector’s Office, the Ambassador was given a tour of the institutes. At the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, coordinator for business relations Sebastien Langui introduced the Ambassador to One Health research and the plan to establish a One Health Centre at the University.
Timo Kikas presented the University’s research on bioeconomy technologies. The tour included the chemistry laboratory, the algae laboratory, and the test machinery laboratory. Ambassador Allen expressed particular interest in the development of biotechnologies related to algae and promised to raise this topic in meetings with British entrepreneurs and researchers.
Aret Vooremäe gave the Ambassador an overview of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, after which the discussion focused on topics related to climate change, such as research on introducing new agricultural crops and breeding climate-resilient varieties. Professor Kalev Sepp introduced studies related to assessing weather impacts and winter damage on crops. Professor Kalev Sepp and Peep Mardiste, a specialist and lecturer in environmental management and policy, presented the English-taught programme Environmental Governance in the Context of Climate Change, which is jointly administered with the University of Tartu. Ambassador Allen considered it an excellent programme with strong potential to attract students from the United Kingdom and expressed his readiness to help promote it.
Ross Allen last visited the Estonian University of Life Sciences four years ago. His term in Estonia will end in the summer of 2026, and he said he regrets having to leave, as he greatly values Estonia’s living environment and cultural space. For this reason, the University’s areas of activity are especially close to his heart.
Toimetaja
