Maternity and parental leave without rose-colored glasses: What a recent employee survey revealed
A total of 321 employees openly shared their views with us (a 34% response rate). What did we learn from you?
Journey to Digital Estonia: A Visit to the University of Tartu
What does a digital university look like, and how does it support its employees, including parents? As part of the OPZ+ project, we visited the University of Tartu, one of the most prominent universities in Estonia.
In June, two members of the OPZ+ working team (Eliška Sobotková and Kateřina Kordiovská) undertook a working trip to the University of Tartu as part of the project ‘Introducing a flexible work culture and support system for parents on maternity and parental leave into the working environment of the Faculty of Science of MU’ (reg. no.: CZ.03.01.02/00/22_012/0003881).
The University of Tartu ranks among the top 1% of the world’s most cited universities. Upon entering the university offices, it quickly became clear why Estonia is considered a European leader in digitalization – paper folders were nowhere to be found, and most administrative processes are fully digital.
Together with the head of the dean’s office at one of the faculties, we explored topics related to work flexibility and support for employees during maternity and parental leave. Although the legal and institutional frameworks in our countries differ, we face similar challenges in many respects. We exchanged experiences regarding current practices and looked for shared paths toward further development in these areas.
The visit also provided insights into HR processes, strategic human resource management, and approaches to employee support in an academic environment. During the program, we met with representatives of faculties, HR, and staff from other departments. Discussions focused on onboarding procedures, evaluation of academic staff, and opportunities for their professional development. Particular attention was also given to topics such as equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as employee well-being.
In connection with the upcoming site visit, we shared our experience with implementing the principles of the HR Excellence in Research Award – an award our institution has received and continues to actively build upon. The University of Tartu is currently considering joining this European framework and was particularly interested in the application process, the benefits for the institution and its employees, as well as potential challenges along the way.
The entire visit was a valuable source of inspiration and reaffirmed the importance of international exchange of experiences among European universities. The knowledge gained and the new contacts established will be used in the further development of our activities – not only in alignment with European standards but, above all, to better support our staff in their everyday work.
