On 19 March, the School of Business and Governance held a formal gathering to recognise the contributions of outstanding staff members to the development of the school and the advancement of research. A total of 27 employees were honoured for their achievements and daily work, which set an example for colleagues and students alike.
Congratulations to all the award recipients!
AIRI NOPPEL
School of Business and Governance Lecturer of the Year 2025
Airi Noppel is a supportive and inspiring lecturer whose warmth and positive energy never go unnoticed. Student feedback reflects a strong sense of trust and safety, even when the topics become challenging. She engages and encourages her students, sparking genuine interest in entrepreneurship even among those who were initially indifferent. A valued colleague and thoughtful partner, she is always ready to contribute ideas and offer advice. Airi teaches students across all Schools and does so with true dedication and joy.
Author: Jürgen Randma
TARMO KOPPEL
School of Business and Governance Lecturer of the Year 2025
Tarmo was speaking about AI long before it became an everyday topic of conversation. A leading expert in his field, he brings the latest knowledge into the classroom and takes discussions confidently to a deeper level. Demanding, yet fair. Dedicated and approachable, even when the course is intensive and expectations are high. A driving force in digital and artificial intelligence education, he is constantly learning and developing, currently pursuing a second doctoral degree in the School of IT. He participates in international research projects and generously shares his knowledge with colleagues.
Author: Jürgen Randma
HEILI HEIN-SULA
School of Business and Governance Programme Director of the Year 2025
As the Programme Director of the Master’s Programme in Economic Analysis, Heili has consistently increased the programme’s attractiveness and quality by raising the number of applicants, strengthening the academic level of admitted students, and enhancing graduation outcomes. She has developed the programme systematically, mapped bottlenecks in the teaching process, and implemented targeted changes that support the successful completion of studies. Under her leadership, students’ master’s theses regularly receive recognition in professional and national competitions. Students highly value her calm, thorough, and supportive approach, as well as the sense that their opinions are genuinely taken into account.
Author: Jürgen Randma
KOIDU SAIA
School of Business and Governance Support Staff Member of the Year 2025
Koidu stands out for her clarity and structured approach. She has an eye for detail without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. Professional and thorough, she knows her field inside out and maintains high quality even when the pace is fast and projects accumulate. For researchers, she is a strong backbone in launching new ideas as well as managing complex projects. She helps refine concepts and shape convincing proposals. She spots opportunities others might overlook, brings people to the same table, and turns good ideas into well-functioning teams. Amid a rapidly growing project portfolio, she creates order and clarity, helps anticipate risks, and provides leadership with a solid overview. At the same time, she actively contributes to strengthening internal collaboration and to her own professional development. For colleagues, she is a partner with whom real solutions take shape.
Author: Jürgen Randma
VEIKO LEMBER
School of Business and Governance PhD Supervisor of the year 2025
Veiko has supervised four doctoral candidates to the successful completion of their PhD degrees over the past three years, marking an outstanding achievement in doctoral education. His work reflects a sustained commitment to developing research potential and fostering high-level, impactful scholarship. Notably, three of these candidates defended their dissertations within the nominal duration of their studies, underscoring the clarity and effectiveness of his academic leadership. Veiko’s supervisory approach combines high academic standards with a supportive and intellectually demanding research environment. His professionalism and dedication have significantly strengthened both the development of emerging scholars and the academic excellence of the School of Business and Governance.
Author: Jürgen Randma
SPECIAL AWARDS 2025
Special awards vary each year depending on outstanding achievements.
LIINA RANDMANN
School of Business and Governance Recognition for Longstanding and Consistent Dedication 2025
The School of Business and Governance recognizes Liina Randmann for her many years of dedicated service. She is an inspiring lecturer and a demanding supervisor who sees more in her students than they initially see in themselves, encourages them to grow with purpose, and does not settle for half measures. Her supervision is demanding yet fair. Liina creates a learning environment where thoroughness is natural, responsibility is taken for granted, and professionalism is a matter of pride.
Author: Jürgen Randma
INGRID LAAS
School of Business and Governance Visibility Architect 2025
The School of Business and Governance recognizes Ingrid for her strategic and impactful leadership in marketing, which has elevated the school’s visibility to a new level. Together with her team — awarded “Most Outstanding Contributors 2025” — she has systematically developed programme marketing and created a strong platform for the Economic Vision Conference, whose top-level organization over the past two years has brought the school’s ideas and expertise clearly to the forefront in both academic circles and wider societal debate. This has allowed the school's ideas, people and competences to emerge more clearly, giving it a bolder, more visible and influential voice today.
Author: Jürgen Randma
KAJA KATTEL
School of Business and Governance Quiet Force 2025
Special award for a contribution that combines professional precision, institutional memory, and genuine care for people and the academic environment.
Kaja is a person at the Department of Law whom colleagues and students turn to for both advice and solutions. Her dedication to the organisation of legal education dates back to the days of Concordia University, and the functioning of the Institute of Law at TalTech has largely relied on her consistency and sense of responsibility. Even during more challenging periods, she has helped ensure that the institute’s daily work remains stable and reliable. Beyond her own unit, she has been an important collaboration partner across the faculty, contributing to projects, organisational processes, and the hosting of international guests. Her professionalism, precision, and caring attitude create a working environment where people feel supported and valued.
Author: Jürgen Randma
KAIDO KEPP
School of Business and Governance Field Development Leader 2025
The initiator and driving force behind the Insurance Masterclass has created, in cooperation with the Estonian Insurance Association, a comprehensive training programme that helps participants systematically understand how insurance and risk management function. Under Kaido’s leadership, the training curriculum has been developed to combine academic knowledge with the experience of leading industry experts, creating a meaningful platform for collaboration. The course supports both new and experienced professionals in developing their knowledge and contributes to the professional development of the insurance sector in Estonia. This initiative is a clear example of dedicated leadership and a strong contribution to the knowledge-based development of the field.
Author: Jürgen Randma
Research articles
School of Business and Governance Research Articles of the Year 2025
The Research Article Award aims to recognize outstanding research within the School, motivating members to publish in top-tier journals. Criteria for selection include preference for articles published within the School’s core areas and in Web of Science (WoS) journals with a higher Impact Factor (IF). Awards are distributed to research articles which were selected by the School's management.
Research Articles of the Year 2025 „TOP-20 Journal Articles“:
HUMA ITTEFAQ
„Zero-COVID and retail: Using multi-wave data to examine the role of perceived risk and psychological factors in shopping abandonment“
Akhtar, Naeem; Ittefaq, Huma; Siddiqi, Umar Iqbal; Islam, Tahir; Hameed, Zahid; Kuzior, Aleksandra
Author: Jürgen Randma
„The art of innovation: How arts-based initiatives can nurture innovation dynamic capabilities”
Berthinier-Poncet, Anne; Podmetina, Daria; Robbins, Peter
Author: Janika Hirvelaan
„Bankers' pay and the evolving structure of US banking“
Anderson, Ronald W.; Jõeveer, Karin
Author: Jürgen Randma
„How does government feel? Toward a theory of institutional pathos in public administration“
Boswell, John; Corbett, Jack; Grube, Dennis C.; Stein, Mari-Klara
Author: Jürgen Randma
„Interest rate spreads: Different stories for different types of loan“
Kukk, Merike; Levenko, Natalia
Author: Jürgen Randma
RINGA RAUDLA, KÜLLI SARAPUU, JOHANNA VALLISTU, KERLI ONNO, NASTASSIA HARBUZOVA
“The politics of experimental policymaking: the influence of blame avoidance and credit claiming”
Raudla, Ringa; Sarapuu, Külli; Vallistu, Johanna; Onno, Kerli; Harbuzova, Nastassia
Author: Jürgen Randma
„Drivers of fintech policy evolution: the role of policy learning and institutions“
Raudla, Ringa; Juuse, Egert; Kuokštis, Vytautas; Cepilovs, Aleksandrs; Ylönen, Matti
Author: Jürgen Randma
„To sandbox or not to sandbox? Diverging strategies of regulatory responses to FinTech“
Raudla, Ringa; Juuse, Egert; Kuokstis, Vytautas; Cepilovs, Aleksandrs; Cipinys, Vytenis; Ylonen, Matti
Author: Jürgen Randma
RINGA RAUDLA, JAMES W. DOUGLAS
„Political tax cycles in the US states: Opportunism versus ideological sincerity in governors' revenue proposals“
Douglas, James W.; Szmer, John; Raudla, Ringa
Author: Janika Hirvelaan
Research Articles of the Year 2025:
MIHHAIL KIREJEV, WOLFGANG GERSTLBERGER, TARVO NIINE
„Political ideologies and strategic management in municipal transportation: A comparative analysis of smart and sustainable development approaches.“
Kirejev, Mihhail; Gerstlberger, Wolfgang Dieter; Niine, Tarvo
Author: Jürgen Randma
„Schizophrenia genetic risk and labour market outcomes in the Finnish general population: Are schizophrenia-related traits penalised or rewarded?“
Hazak, Aaro; Liuhanen, Johanna; Kantojärvi, Katri; Sulkava, Sonja; Jääskeläinen, Tuija; Salomaa, Veikko; Koskinen, Seppo; Perola, Markus; Paunio, Tiina
Author: Jürgen Randma
ALEKSI OSKAR JOHANNES KAJANDER
„Cybersecurity of weapon systems: international law requirements and technical standards.“
Kajander, Aleksi; Liivoja, Rain; Naagel, Maarja
Author: Janika Hirvelaan