For the first time, a representative of Estonian universities of applied sciences has been elected as Vice President of EURASHE – the European Association for Applied Sciences in Higher Education.

At the EURASHE General Assembly held on 13 May in Portalegre, Portugal, Rector of Tartu Applied Health Sciences University, Ulla Preeden, was elected Vice President of EURASHE. She was also re-elected to the EURASHE Board for a new two-year term.

As Vice President and representative of Estonian universities of applied sciences, Ulla Preeden will continue to play a key role in shaping European higher education policy and in voicing the priorities of Estonia’s applied higher education sector at the international level.

“I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to contribute, as a EURASHE board member, to a field that is close to my heart – the development of European applied higher education and its integration with the world of work,” said Ulla Preeden.

“EURASHE is a highly valuable knowledge and cooperation platform, creating meaningful connections between higher education institutions, employers, and different levels of education – even beyond Europe. This kind of international collaboration is essential to highlighting the role of applied higher education in addressing today’s societal and economic challenges. I am delighted to continue contributing to this strong and diverse network,” she added.

EURASHE was founded in Patras (Greece) in 1990 as an international association promoting and emphasising Applied Higher Education.

While EURASHE initially admitted only national organisations (such as councils of directors) as members, it later opened membership to individual institutions. Nowadays, the members of EURASHE are colleges, polytechnics, university colleges, and universities with professional training.

TTK University of Applied Sciences has opened Estonia’s first-of-its-kind 3D concrete printing laboratory at Siidisaba 8 in Tallinn. The new facility marks a major step forward in construction innovation and technology development.

The lab was established as part of the international EXEP3D project, which focuses on advancing 3D concrete printing and developing sustainable concrete mixtures in Estonia.

According to Aivars Alt, Senior Lecturer at TTK’s Institute of Civil Engineering and Project Manager of EXEP3D, the university’s goal is to strengthen knowledge and skills in 3D concrete printing and boost Estonia’s expertise in the field.

“We aim to support the development of construction technology in Estonia by promoting more sustainable and efficient solutions that offer a competitive edge to the local industry,” Alt explained. “This new lab opens up further opportunities for research and development, education, and international cooperation. The range of potential applications for 3D concrete printing is vast, and by improving materials and adopting new technologies, we hope to drive innovation in the construction sector.”

3D concrete printing is a fast-growing and dynamic technology worldwide. TTK University of Applied Sciences aims to be a national leader in this field and to become the leading competence center for concrete printing in the Baltic region.

In the last week of August, the new lab will host Estonia’s first student 3D concrete printing competition. The winning project will be printed in real scale. The competition is open to students from all Estonian universities, with Mapri Ehitus as the main sponsor.

The establishment of the lab is part of the EXEP3D project, which seeks to enhance knowledge and skills in 3D concrete printing, raise Estonia’s competence, and support the advancement of sustainable construction technologies, ultimately offering competitive advantages to the Estonian construction industry.

The total investment in the new laboratory was €250,000.

Tartu Applied Health Sciences University has published an international peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Full of Knowledge, which presents novel research findings in the fields of healthcare and health education.

Jaan Looga, the research coordinator at Tartu Applied Health Sciences University and the journal’s editor-in-chief, explained that the journal, which publishes original research, case studies, and review articles, is available both in print and online at tartuh.ee/journal.

“The scientific journal Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Full of Knowledge is a significant step in advancing knowledge and practices in the healthcare sector in Estonia. Our journal allows researchers and practitioners to share their findings with a wider readership while also serving as a platform for introducing interdisciplinary ideas and innovations in the field. Open access ensures that high-quality research reaches not only the academic community but also practitioners and decision-makers whose work directly influences the development of the healthcare system,” Looga added.

Key topics covered by the journal include public health awareness, nutrition, physical activity, mental health, infectious diseases and their prevention, patient safety, environmental health, health technologies, curriculum development in healthcare education, and the alignment of teaching methods, assessment methods, and criteria with learning outcomes.

The Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Full of Knowledge journal is published biennially, with the next manuscript submission deadline set for December 31, 2025. The journal’s responsible publisher is Jaan Looga, Artur Kuus created its design, and the first issue, spanning 92 pages, presents the results of nine studies.

Additionally, the university publishes a print magazine, Tervist!, twice a year, with its articles available online at tartuh.ee/tervist.

As Europe continues to recalibrate its internal security models, review, and analysis of experiences in different countries serve to better understand the potential approaches and solutions to meet necessary legal innovation, institutional reform, and a principled commitment to safeguarding the public good. The 25th issue of academic journal Security Spectrum: Journal of Advanced Security Research bears the subtitle “Pro bono publico – for the public good and benefit” as it is dedicated to the Estonian Law Enforcement Act (LEA) and its significance for the rule of law and society. The Latin phrase pro bono publico underscores that law enforcement does not operate as an autonomous force of power but rather exists in the service of society – for the common good, and for the protection of citizens’ safety and freedoms. This foundational principle is also reflected in the core tenets of the LEA, which entered into force in 2014 and is examined from multiple perspectives in the articles of this issue.

The Estonian experience demonstrates that the Law Enforcement Act is essential for ensuring legal clarity, the proportional exercise of state power, and societal stability. It provides the police and other law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to act effectively while upholding fundamental human rights. For the international reader, Estonia offers an illustrative example of how a small state can develop a transparent and trustworthy law enforcement system—one that places the individual and the public good at its core.