National curriculum | Ethics in Estonia

Contacts of UT units

Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty link: 
humanities.ut.ee
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Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5341
Faculty address: 
Jakobi 2, rooms 116–121, 51005 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
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    + 372 737 5341
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    Jakobi 2, rooms 116–121, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of History and Archaeology
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    www.flaj.ut.ee
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    +372 737 5651
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics
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    +372 737 5221
    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
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    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 2, rooms 309–352, 51005 Tartu
  • Institute of Cultural Research
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    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 16, 51003 Tartu
  • School of Theology and Religious Studies
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    us.ut.ee
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    +372 737 5301
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18–310, 50090 Tartu
  • College of Foreign Languages and Cultures
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    maailmakeeled.ut.ee
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    Faculty address: 
    J. Liivi 4, 50409, Tartu
  • Viljandi Culture Academy
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    +372 435 5232
    Faculty address: 
    Posti 1, 71004 Viljandi
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty link: 
socialsciences.ut.ee
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Employee contacts
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+372 737 5957
Faculty address: 
Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
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    Faculty phone: 
    + 372 737 5900
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Institute of Education
    Faculty link: 
    www.ht.ut.ee
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    +372 737 6440
    Faculty address: 
    Salme 1a–29, 50103 Tartu
  • Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
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    skytte.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5582
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36–301, 51003 Tartu
  • School of Economics and Business Administration
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    majandus.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6310
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Institute of Psychology
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    psychology.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5902
    Faculty address: 
    Näituse 2, 50409 Tartu
  • School of Law
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    law.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5390
    Faculty address: 
    Näituse 20–324, 50409 Tartu
  • Institute of Social Studies
    Faculty link: 
    yti.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5188
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu
  • Narva College
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    www.narva.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 740 1900
    Faculty address: 
    Raekoja plats 2, 20307 Narva
  • Pärnu College
    Faculty link: 
    www.pc.ut.ee
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    +372 445 0520
    Faculty address: 
    Ringi 35, 80012 Pärnu
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty link: 
medicine.ut.ee
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Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5326
Faculty address: 
Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5326
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
    Faculty link: 
    biomeditsiin.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4210
    Faculty address: 
    Biomeedikum, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Pharmacy
    Faculty link: 
    farmaatsia.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5286
    Faculty address: 
    Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Dentistry
    Faculty link: 
    hambaarstiteadus.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 731 9856
    Faculty address: 
    Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu
  • Institute of Clinical Medicine
    Faculty link: 
    clinicalmedicine.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5323
    Faculty address: 
    L. Puusepa 8, 50406 Tartu
  • Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health
    Faculty link: 
    tervis.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4190
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
    Faculty link: 
    www.kk.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5360
    Faculty address: 
    Ujula 4, 51008 Tartu
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty link: 
science.ut.ee
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Employee contacts
Faculty phone: 
+372 737 5820
Faculty address: 
Vanemuise 46–208, 51014 Tartu
  • Dean's Office
    Faculty contacts link: 
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5820
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46–208, 51003 Tartu
  • Institute of Computer Science
    Faculty link: 
    cs.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5445
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Estonian Marine Institute
    Faculty link: 
    mereinstituut.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 671 8902
    Faculty address: 
    Mäealuse 14, 12618 Tallinn
  • Institute of Physics
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    www.fi.ut.ee
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    Faculty address: 
    W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Chemistry
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    chem.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5261
    Faculty address: 
    Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Genomics
    Faculty link: 
    genomics.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4000
    Faculty address: 
    Riia 23b, 51010 Tartu
  • Institute of Mathematics and Statistics
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    www.math.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5860
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu
  • Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
    Faculty link: 
    tymri.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5027
    Faculty address: 
    Riia 23, 23b–134, 51010 Tartu
  • Tartu Observatory
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    www.kosmos.ut.ee
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    +372 737 4510
    Faculty address: 
    Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere, 61602 Tartumaa
  • Institute of Technology
    Faculty link: 
    tuit.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 4800
    Faculty address: 
    Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu
  • Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
    Faculty link: 
    www.omi.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5835
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu
Institutions
  • Library
    Faculty link: 
    utlib.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5702
    Faculty address: 
    W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
  • Youth Academy
    Faculty link: 
    teaduskool.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5581
    Faculty address: 
    Uppsala 10, 51003 Tartu
  • Museum
    Faculty link: 
    muuseum.ut.ee
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5674
    Faculty address: 
    Lossi 25, 51003 Tartu
  • University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden
    Faculty link: 
    natmuseum.ut.ee
    Faculty contacts link: 
    https://www.ut.ee/en/kontakt/loodusmuuseum-botaanikaaed
    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 6076
    Faculty address: 
    Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu
Support Units
  • Administrative Office
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    +372 737 5606
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
  • Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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    +372 737 4809
    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 18, 51009, Tartu
  • University Office in Tallinn
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    University Office in Tallinn
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    Faculty address: 
    Teatri väljak 3, 10143 Tallinn
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    Ülikooli 18a, 51005 Tartu
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    Faculty address: 
    Jakobi 4, 51005 Tartu
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    Raekoja plats 9, 51004 Tartu
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    Ülikooli 18, rooms 302 and 304, 50090 Tartu
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    Ülikooli 18-244, 51005 Tartu
  • International Cooperation and Protocol Office
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    Ülikooli 18, rooms 102, 104, 209, 210, 50090 Tartu
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  • Rector's Office
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    Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
  • Student Council
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  • University of Tartu Press
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    W. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu
Other Units
  • University of Tartu Academic Sports Club
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    sport.ut.ee
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    +372 737 5371
    Faculty address: 
    Ujula 4, 51008 Tartu
  • Tartu Student Village
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    Faculty address: 
    Narva mnt 25, 51013 Tartu
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    +372 730 2400
    Faculty address: 
    Kalevi 24, 51010 Tartu
  • Tartu University Hospital
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    www.kliinikum.ee/eng
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    L. Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu
  • University of Tartu Foundation
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    Faculty phone: 
    +372 737 5852
    Faculty address: 
    Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu
  • View all other units
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National curriculum

One of the main aims when developing the Estonian national curriculum for general education schools was to achieve coherence between the general part and the programmes for particular subjects. On the one hand, it is important to describe the general aims in the sphere of values clearly and fully; on the other hand, it is equally important that in the programmes for particular subjects these value principles are presented in connection with the content of these subjects. In order to achieve this dual aim, the Centre for Ethics worked in close cooperation with the Centre for Educational Research and Curriculum Development at the University of Tartu, didactics specialists of particular subjects, teachers and experts from the Ministry of Education and Research.

Formulation of the aims in the general part

Discussions with the groups working on the programmes of particular subjects showed that there was a great need to work out in detail the formulation of the general part of the curriculum. The work to address this need resulted in the formulation of the aims and underlying values of the curriculum by prof. Margit Sutrop and prof. Marju Lauristin.  In the formulation of the aims for both basic and upper secondary schools, the role of values education was stressed in addition to the educational function of school. The ultimate aim of education is to give students the ability to realise themselves fully in various life roles: in family, at work and in community. The realisation of this aim means both each person’s personal happiness and a successfully functioning cohesive society; formation of suitable attitudes and judgements in the sphere of values is the necessary basis for both. It is necessary to support in equal measure students’ psychological, physical, moral, social and emotional development.

Basic school supports the formation of basic attitudes in the sphere of values; it is here that the basis for self-determination as a self-aware person and a member of a family, nation and society is created and the ability to understand value judgements that underlie one’s actions and to feel responsibility for their consequences is developed. The main educational and character development aim of upper secondary school is to help students to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes in the sphere of values allowing them to choose an occupation that conforms to their interests and abilities, and to continue their education without obstacles.

Values in the programmes for particular subjects

In order to understand the relations between values and particular subjects more clearly, we organised a series of seminars with all groups working on the programmes for particular subjects in 2009. In order to provide a more specific starting point for the discussion, we analysed and gave feedback to the existing preliminary versions of the programmes so that afterwards we could discuss with the experts how to give a more definite form to the aspects of the programmes that are related to values.

This work resulted in the general guidelines for both basic and upper secondary schools and a series of subject-specific materials that give recommendations for discussing values in the context of different subjects. These materials can be taken into account when updating current programmes for particular subjects; they can also support the future development of the programmes.