University of Tartu Youth Academy

QUICK: programme-initiative

University of Tartu Youth Academy
Organisation:
University of Tartu
Country:
Estonia
Education level:
Lower secondary education, Secondary Education
Year start:
1965
Status:
Ongoing
Short summary:
The University of Tartu Youth Academy programme (henceforth UTYA) is one of the longest running STEM promotion initiatives in Estiona (launched in 1965). The main goal of the programme is to create opportunities for the development of pupils who have already shown a deeper interest in science by offering optional courses, support teachers (in particular in their work with gifted students) and contribute to the popularisation of science and science careers in Estonia.  
Description and objectives:

The University of Tartu Youth Academy programme (henceforth UTYA) is one of the longest running STEM promotion initiatives in Estiona (launched in 1965). The aim of UTYA is to create opportunities for the development of pupils who have already shown a deeper interest in science. The programme facilitates enriching a pupil´s knowledge beyond the usual school curriculum and also the resources to spend their leisure time meaningfully.

 

The UTYA organizes courses in three different levels and a range of subjects, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, but also in linguistics, philosophy and other non-STEM areas. Some courses are correspondence courses conducted via ordinary mail and some are carried out using e-learning facilities. Pupils can participate either individually or as a group. There are no entrance requirements, although the programme requires pupils to be motivated and able to work independently.

 

The instructors of the courses are usually University of Tartu professors, researchers or students. Pupils get feedback on their work as well as after graduation from the course. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate from University of Tartu.

 

To enhance the pupils’ abilities and learning styles, the UTYA offers some testing facilities. Some of the tests can be taken online. In addition, for pupils who are interested in participating in different kinds of contests, the UTYA organizes national Olympiads in maths, physics, chemistry, informatics, biology, geography and other areas. When students perform well at national Olympiads they are given the opportunity to participate in international contests or Olympiads. Estonian teams have been taking part in such contests since 1992 and each year pupils have won several medals.

 

Through these activities as well as participation in other projects and events, the programme also contributes to popularising science and technology to the wider audience.

 

The main goal of the programme is to create opportunities for the development of pupils who have already shown a deeper interest in science. The programme does so by:

 

  • offering optional science courses to pupils, mostly available online for students in grade 7 – 12
  • providing financial grants to gifted students to promote studying in Estonia (instead of going abroad) through the ‘Talents to Targu’ sub-programme (since 2020)
  • offering teaching resources to teachers that help organize individualized learning in classes and are useful for additional extracurricular activities
  • offering teacher-training sessions to schools focused on gifted children's education and psychology.

 

The objectives of the programme are related to the Estonians' aim to build on a science-based economy and smart specialisation. In order to do that, there is a need to offer gifted pupil opportunities to develop themselves and have good opportunities in the country so that there would not be a need for gifted children to leave for the better opportunities.

 

Reach:
Through its activities, UTYA reaches a large number of pupils each year. In 2020, UTYA: 49 different courses with over 2 300 students. organised workshops in 64 schools for 798 students with 96 students also participating in individual study session held 10 Olympiads (lower than normal due to Covid-19, normally there are around 20), with 551 participants. In the science subject competitions, there were 836 participants. provided financial grants to 62 young people to support their study-career in Estonia.
Impact:
The programme provided direct support in a variety of ways, to a large number of gifted students (see above). The programme also promoted (successful) participation in national science competitions and through its activities contributed to the popularisation of science and science careers on among thousands of children per year.
Budget and funding model:
UTYA is funded through: participation fees from participants (ranging from 12 to 25 euros per course) financing from the University of Tartu support from companies, such as banks, biotechnology, IT companies etc. project-based funding from Estonian Research Council, Tartu City Government and other sources.