The Slovak Rectors' Conference organized a visit to Estonian universities for its members with the support of the Estonian Rectors' Conference (link). SRC members, who showed interest in it, had the opportunity to meet the rectors of Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology, both art academies located in Tallinn, as well as the largest University of Tartu and the Estonian University of Natural Sciences, which is also located in Tartu.

At Tallinn University (link), SRC members met with Rector Tõnu Viik and other members of the management. The topics of the joint conversation were 21st century teaching and learning, data-informed governance and strategic decision-making, transfer of knowledge and social impact of universities. Tõnu Viik also spoke about his efforts to make academics and their research more visible in the media and thus bring the university and its outputs closer to the general public. Tallinn University and the University of Performing Arts in Bratislava are partners in the FILM EU+ alliance, and therefore cooperation in European university alliances was another common topic of conversation. The Rector of the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts opened a discussion on "Liberal Arts" in both countries. Samuel Abrahám adds: "The visit to universities in Estonia was pleasant and useful. Estonian colleagues are welcoming, efficient and willing to cooperate. Their school system emphasizes quality and investments in education are priorities for the government as well as university rectors. Finally, the current president of Estonia is a former university rector, so he knows what to support, strengthen and what to relieve and debureaucratize in the school system. Thanks to this well-organized trip, among other things, BISLA signs an agreement about Erasmus exchange with Tallinn University. Tallinn University has two Liberal Arts programs. I already envy our students the pleasant city, the great atmosphere at the university and definitely the quality courses."

At the Tallinn University of Technology (link), the Slovak delegation was received by its rector and at the same time the president of the Estonian Rectors' Conference, Tiit Land, who together with his colleagues presented the digital transformation of the university and talked about the support of innovation and AI efforts. Rector of the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Katarína Slobodová Nováková, rector of Trnava University Miloš Lichner, rector of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and SRC president Vladimír Hiadlovský, as well as SRC secretary general Mária Čikešová, were interested in the introduction of AI tools in teaching and education and in internationalization. Miloš Lichner says: "As rector, I greatly appreciate that Estonia is building its long-term future on the quality of education, digital competences and the support of critical thinking. It is also extremely inspiring for me that Estonia is today among the world leaders in the integration of AI into education, as a tool for personalized education and better preparation of young people for the future." The Slovak delegation was able to see the premises of the university, discuss with representatives of the Estonian scale up company ÄIO about the conditions created at Estonian universities for start ups and scale ups.

Rector of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Martin Šmatlák, appreciated the opportunity to visit Estonian art schools: "The visit to the universities in Estonia was truly inspiring and I am very happy that I also had the special opportunity to visit the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater (EAMT) and meet personally with its rector Ivari Iljo. The spatial and technological equipment of EAMT is impressive and we agreed that the focus of the study programs allows us to develop mutual mobility between our schools more intensively. I especially value EAMT's experience in doctoral studies in the field of art and its focus on artistic research, which is currently a current topic at our school as well. Together with Tallinn University and its Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM), we are already jointly involved in the European Film EU+ alliance, so our international cooperation in this area is really intensive. On a bilateral level, we would like to expand it to include communication in the field of student festivals, because both our festival "Ačko" and Tallinn's "BOB" (Best of BFM) have the ambition to expand their international dimension." During our stay in Tallinn, we also met with the rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts (link) Hikka Hiiop.

The visit to Estonia continued on Tuesday at the country's largest university - the University of Tartu (link) and a meeting with Rector Ülle Jaakma of the Estonian University of Natural Sciences (link). The joint discussion focused on the success of Estonian universities and the path to it. The University of Tartu is successful on a pan-European scale (ERC grants, start-up support). The Estonian University of Natural Sciences offers modern study programs based on the "One health" strategy and supports sustainability. We visited the #LUMI HPC consortium located at the University of Tartu and discussed building infrastructure for scientific computing, but also cybersecurity and academia-industry partnerships.

SRC President Vladimír Hiadlovský says: "The visit to Estonian universities was an extremely powerful professional and personal experience for me. Discussions at Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology, and especially at the University of Tartu showed me that Estonia does not see universities only as educational institutions, but as a strategic part of the country's future. I was particularly impressed by the connection of academic quality, digitalization, AI, research and an international environment with a very natural and cultivated university atmosphere. Tartu left a particularly strong impression on me — a city with an exceptional genius loci, where the university naturally shapes the identity of the entire city. This visit was a great inspiration for me and at the same time a confirmation that even a smaller European country can have world-class universities if it builds on quality, education and a clear vision."

Rector of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Katarína Slobodová Nováková concludes: "The visit to Estonia and meetings with representatives of Estonian universities and the Estonian Rectors' Conference brought a lot of inspiring ideas and opportunities to exchange experiences on current trends in higher education. I was particularly interested in how naturally and systematically the use of AI is developed in the Estonian environment - not only in the educational process, but also in information systems of universities and their daily functioning. Digitization is not seen as an  final aim, but as an effective tool for the development and modernization of the academic environment. The emphasis on the so-called green mission of universities, as well as the support of equal opportunities, gender balance and the creation of an inclusive academic environment, confirms the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of ideas."

We presented the Slovak higher education sector and the possibilities of closer cooperation to the Estonian partners.

We thank the Estonian Rectors' Conference, namely its President Tiit Land and Secretary General Hanna Kanep, for the opportunity to visit Estonian universities and for their hospitality, but also to all the rectors and experts we met for their time. SRC President Vladimír Hiadlovský invited Estonian colleagues to visit Slovakia so that we could continue the discussion and establish closer bilateral relations.