Under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement, funding for higher education in Estonia is set to increase. This year, an additional €10 million will be allocated to higher educational institutions, with the amount of funding also rising by 15% annually. Although universities had requested a sum of around €25 million to ease financial concerns, rectors say that even €10 million is a good sign.
University rectors on Monday said the underfunding of Estonia's higher education sector is a security risk, calling for millions of euros worth of additional funding, as political parties continue coalition negotiations.
Outstanding contracts under public law are not necessitating cuts just yet, while universities say that austerity cannot be avoided should higher education not see a 15-percent hike in funding this fall.
Estonian universities consider Russia's aggression unjustified and condemn the military attack on an independent state. As a result, universities have decided to halt cooperation with higher education institutions and research organisations in Russia and Belarus. "Academic communities around the world, including Russia and Belarus, have a moral responsibility to stand up for peace, academic and democratic values," explained Mart Kalm, President of Universities Estonia.