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.

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.

artu 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.