President of UTSU Eneken Riin Salong at ball: national university is a place where everyone can grow into a scholar and creator

Dear guests,

Today we celebrate the anniversary of our national university—the day when Estonian-language science and education found their home, thanks to those who dared to believe in the endurance of the Republic of Estonia and the spirit of its people. Every year holds symbolic significance for the national university, as it reaffirms that the Estonian language and culture live, evolve, and speak in the language of science.

But for us to celebrate this day again next year, we must understand our responsibility—the responsibility to pass on and uphold the intellectual heritage of the national university. This is not just a historical fact, but a living set of values. This includes Estonian-language science, academic freedom, critical thinking, and the preservation and renewal of our culture. These are the values that have shaped our national identity and give us the strength to be as courageous as we were a century ago and independent in a changing world.

But the legacy does not last by itself. It needs carriers—people who understand that every decision and action is part of a larger whole and shapes the future. Those who currently bear responsibility, those who teach, research, and lead, must pass on the meaning of knowledge and dare to trust the next bearer, the learner and the researcher, so that they will take on the responsibility and carry the national university forward.

The next bearers must be encouraged to take on this responsibility and pass on the belief that Estonian is the language of science, that the national university is a place where everyone can grow into a scholar and creator. When opportunity and trust are given, continuity is born that carries on the spirit of the national university.

This responsibility is neither abstract nor distant. It is a conscious choice and a daily act: in which language we learn and teach, how we think, which values we pass on, and how we relate to and care for one another.

This responsibility cannot be borne alone; the sustainability of the national university is not only the responsibility of the university, but of the entire society and the country. Only if we truly value and support higher education in Estonian can we preserve what began in 1919—the national university as a home of free thought and science. This is a weighty obligation, responsibility, and promise that will not only bear fruit today, but will also determine our tomorrow.

In 1919, the foundation was laid for something that will only last if each generation takes responsibility. Today, that responsibility lies in your hands and ours. Let us ensure that the Estonian language and spirit will speak even when neither we nor you are here anymore.

Congratulations to our national university!