Eva Åkesson Awarded the Skytte Medal by the University of Tartu

Eva Åkesson, vice-chancellor of Uppsala University
and member of the University of Tartu Council.
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt

As vice-chancellor of Uppsala University, Eva Åkesson has placed a great deal of emphasis on strengthening the partnership between the two universities and in involving the University of Tartu in more international networks. On her recommendation, in 2016 the University of Tartu was invited to become a member of the Guild Network of Research-intensive Universities.

According to Rector Toomas Asser, Eva Åkesson also played a role in the decision by the U4 Network – a support platform focusing on education, research and institutional management collaborations – to select the University of Tartu as its fifth member in 2018, together with Uppsala University, Ghent University, the University of Göttingen and the University of Groningen.

Since 2017, Eva Åkesson has been a member of the University of Tartu Council.

“The remarkable successes of the University of Tartu in internationalisation are largely the result of the personal commitment of Eva Åkesson. Internationalisation is an important tool that allows us to raise awareness of the university, broaden cooperation opportunities and guarantee the smart development of the university as well as Estonia,” says Toomas Asser.

Toomas Asser, rector of the University of Tartu, presents the medal to Eva Åkesson.
Photo: Andres Tennus.

In addition to recognising Eva Åkesson’s personal contribution, the award of the Skytte Medal also has another significance. It underlines the historical ties between Uppsala University and the University of Tartu, which was established by Johan Skytte in 1632. Johan Skytte was a privy councillor and chancellor of Uppsala University, where in 1622 he established the Skytte Professorship in Eloquence and Political Science.