Lecturers of the Year 2025 are:

Erki Eessaar (Department of Software Science)

An outstanding and dedicated lecturer, highly valued by students both for his professional competence and for his humane and supportive attitude. His study materials are thorough, well structured and clear, and his teaching is logically organised. Students particularly appreciate his ability to explain complex topics comprehensively and calmly, as well as his prompt and helpful communication, even when it is not during contact study time. Student feedback highlights that he genuinely loves his work and field, which is directly reflected in learners’ motivation, engagement and the high quality of the learning experience.

Toomas Lepikult (IT College)

He has been teaching for 25 years, and throughout this time his work has been characterised by exceptionally high standards and strong student support. Courses delivered in 2025 once again received very high ratings. Students emphasised his clear and calm teaching style, logically structured courses and fair course assessment. Over the years, Toomas has been described as helpful, approachable and respectful, offering support both during lectures and in independent assignments. Practical examples and well-chosen tasks help students understand complex topics and spark interest in continuing their studies in data analytics and machine learning.

Andres Eek (Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics)

A demanding yet fair and supportive lecturer, always open to interesting ideas and ready to experiment with and implement new solutions and technologies. According to students, Andres is an excellent lecturer who knows his subject thoroughly and understands well how teamwork functions in project-based settings. He provides detailed and relevant feedback and suggests alternative solutions. Although strict, he always recognises students’ effort and dedication. He has promoted the implementation and development of project-based learning and has collaborated with industrial companies to offer interdisciplinary project assignments and research topics drawn from real-life practice.

Mihkel Kask (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture)

A highly regarded lecturer who contributes significantly to both teaching and curriculum development. Mihkel’s academic work, participation in field-related discussions and involvement in practical projects support students’ deeper understanding of infrastructure and geodesy-related challenges and connect studies with professional practice.

Natalja Savest (Department of Materials and Environmental Technology)

Her dedication to teaching quality and student-centred supervision enriches the department’s instruction and supports students’ professional growth. Natalja’s outstanding research in materials science and technology is reflected in international academic publications and provides her courses with a strong scientific foundation. Her strong research profile combined with practical laboratory experience in her courses supports students’ in-depth understanding of modern materials technologies.

Olga Dunajeva (Virumaa College)

A respected and dedicated lecturer whose work reflects strong academic competence and high teaching quality. Among students, she is known as a supportive and inspiring lecturer. Olga is also active in research and development projects, including robotics–human co-creation research, which brings innovative and practical perspectives into teaching. Her work to date has been outstanding both in terms of teaching quality and in supporting students’ development through supervision.

Andrus Salupere (Department of Cybernetics)

The dean’s nomination for the Lecturer of the Year title was submitted by the Student Council of the School of Science, highlighting his exceptionally warm attitude towards students and his ability to explain subjects thoroughly in lectures. Students also noted that Salupere’s course syllabus is very well structured, assessment criteria are clear and transparent, and tests are designed to require genuine understanding rather than memorisation of formulas and standard tasks. One example from student feedback:
“Prof Salupere creates a very pleasant and learning-supportive atmosphere in class. He adjusts the lecture pace to the group and explains all details with appropriate thoroughness, makes thoughtful pauses and encourages questions. He has a heart-warming sense of humour that motivates learning. Prof Salupere has provided extensive support with every homework assignment, both to the whole class and individually.”

Signe Rosenberg (Department of Economic Analysis and Finance)

An outstanding lecturer whose expertise ranges from macroeconomics to international economics and who consistently receives high feedback every semester. Signe is also one of the most popular supervisors in the department. In addition, she coordinates students’ work placements and professional internships and serves as Vice Chair of the Bachelor’s thesis defence committee. She is a strong example of how a demanding lecturer with clear rules, who expects continuous effort, wins students’ support through competence, vision and humanity. She has continued her research after completing her doctoral degree and integrates her research expertise into teaching: the course Methodology of Empirical Research is regarded by students as extremely valuable. To provide a more practical perspective, Signe has maintained long-term cooperation with the Chief Economist of Swedbank and has consulted economists of the Bank of Estonia in the context of supervising students.

Kristo Krumm (Department of Business Administration)

A lecturer whose dedication and high-quality work have had a significant impact on students’ academic development and practical skills. His professional competence in marketing, management and entrepreneurship enables him to address even complex topics clearly, systematically and in an inspiring manner. Kristo creates a logical and well-designed learning journey for students: what is being learned, why it is important, and how acquired knowledge can be applied in practice. Student feedback on his courses is consistently very high, particularly appreciating the clear and well-considered structure, well-organised study materials and a dynamic yet supportive teaching style that takes into account students’ varying backgrounds and experience. His teaching is characterised by a strong and consistent link between theory and practice and the use of active learning methods. According to students, his lectures foster an atmosphere where they feel confident to ask questions, make mistakes and justify their viewpoints. His willingness to analyse and develop his teaching makes him an important contributor to enhancing overall study quality. In addition to teaching, he supports students in completing theses and projects and advises them on career choices. His supervision style is demanding yet fair: expectations are clearly articulated, assessment criteria transparent, and feedback substantive and development-oriented.

Jarmo Kõster (Estonian Maritime Academy)

In parallel with teaching at the Maritime Academy, Jarmo works as a Senior Maritime Pilot in the State Fleet. His professional practice enables him to immediately integrate real-life experience into teaching, which students have highlighted very positively in their feedback. Jarmo is highly regarded by both students and colleagues. Examples from feedback include: “The lecturer is balanced, explains clearly and chooses an appropriate pace for students to acquire new knowledge.”; “The lecturer asks questions that encourage active thinking during lectures.”; “Real-life examples made the subject more engaging and informative.” In addition to teaching, Jarmo Kõster actively contributes to the fulfilment of industry contracts. As a simulator instructor, he helps conduct excursions and field-introduction activities, and as a spokesperson for the field he has appeared in television and radio programmes.

The Lecturer of the Year awards were presented at the academic ceremony dedicated to the Independence Day of the Republic of Estonia on 27 February.