The Regulation is established based on subsection 6 (2) of the Tallinn University of Technology Act and § 12 of the Statutes of Tallinn University of Technology.

§ 1. General provisions

(1) The Procedure for the Election of Rector specifies the election procedure set out in the Tallinn University of Technology Act and the Statutes of Tallinn University of Technology (hereinafter referred to as “the university”).

(2) A rector is elected by the Board.

(3) A rector is elected for up to five years and for the maximum of two consecutive terms of office. [entry into force 25.01.2025]

(4) A person who is or has been elected to the position of a professor at any university may run as a candidate for the position of rector.

(5) The Board may establish criteria for rector candidates in addition to the requirements set by the Act.

§ 2. Announcement of the election and the election committee

(1) The Board shall announce regular a rector election at least six months before the rector assumes office.

(2) To organise the election, the Board shall establish a three-member election committee, appoint a chairman and an alternate member of the committee, and approve the following deadlines for the election:
1) the date of the rector election;
2) the deadline for submitting rector candidates;
3) the deadline for submitting the Senate’s position on rector candidates;
4) the date of the rector’s assumption of office and the date of its entry into force;
5) other deadlines for the election process, if necessary.

(3) If a member of the election committee is nominated as a rector candidate, he/she shall be replaced by an alternate member appointed by the Board.

(4) The election committee shall:
1) publish a notice about the rector election and the terms and conditions for submitting nominations for rector election in at least two nationwide newspapers and on the university’s website within one week of the election announcement;
2) register rector candidates;
3) present rector candidates to the Board for their position statement;
4) inform the Board of the election committee’s decisions and, if necessary, propose changes to the deadlines for election procedures;
5) organise the rector candidates’ debates and the presentation of their action plans at the university;
6) present the rector candidates on behalf of the Board to the Senate for a position statement;
7) prepare the Board meeting for the rector election;
8) decide on other organisational and technical matters related to the election.

(5) The chairman of the election committee calls the meetings of the election committee. The decisions of the election committee are passed by a majority of votes of the members in favour.

(6) The decisions of the election committee shall be recorded in the minutes, which shall be signed by all members of the committee. A member of the election committee has the right to his/her dissenting opinion to the decision.

(7) The Director for Administration is responsible for providing technical support for the election committee. [entry into force 25.01.2025]

§ 3. Submission and registration of rector candidates

(1) Anyone may nominate rector candidates.

(2) To nominate a candidate, the following documents must be submitted to the election committee in writing or signed digitally and sent via e-mail to valimiskomisjon@taltech.ee:
1) an application to the election committee;
2) the candidate’s consent;
3) the candidate’s CV;
4) a short vision for the development of the university.

(3) The election committee has the right to request additional documents from a rector candidate or the person who nominated the candidate that prove compliance with subsections 1 (4) and (5) and subsection 3 (2).

(4) The election committee shall register the candidates based on the documents specified in subsection 3 (2) and submit the list of candidates along with the documents to the Board within two working days of registration.

(5) A rector candidate may withdraw his/her candidacy at any time.

§ 4. Positions of the Board and Senate

(1) The Board evaluates the suitability of rector candidates for the position and prepares a list of candidates for the election. Only a candidate supported by at least one member of the Board can run as a candidate at the election.

(2) The members of the Board evaluate rector candidates by the principle of the best interests of the university.

(3) If a candidate is not supported by any member of the Board, he/she shall be removed from the list of candidates. The election committee shall inform the candidate and the person who nominated the candidate thereof in writing.

(4) The election committee shall publish the names of rector candidates based on the election list.

(5) The Senate shall express its position on the rector candidates in writing.

§ 5. Introducing rector candidates

(1) Rector candidates shall be provided with equal opportunities to present their positions and action plans to the Board, Senate, and members of the university.

(2) The candidates’ action plans are published on the university’s website and in the magazine “Mente et Manu”.

§ 6. Electing a rector

(1) The Board shall elect a rector no later than two months before the date on which the assumption of office takes effect.

(2) The Board elects a rector by secret ballot with a two-thirds majority of votes of its members. Each member of the Board has one vote.

(3) Each voter must cast his/her vote in person; voting rights cannot be transferred to another person.

(4) A rector shall be elected at a closed meeting of the Board. Other persons may attend the meeting only with the consent of the Board.

(5) The vote shall be conducted by a vote-counting committee, consisting of at least two members, appointed by the Board for this purpose,

§ 7. Assumption of office by the rector

(1) The Senate may veto the rector elected by the Board within one month by a two-thirds majority of the votes of its members. In such a case, the rector election shall be considered failed, the agreement specified in subsection 7 (2) will not be concluded with the candidate, and the Board shall not elect the same person as rector in the subsequent elections.

(2) The chairman of the Board shall enter into an agreement with the rector for a term of up to five years, specifying the rector’s rights and obligations, the amount of rector’s remuneration, and other terms and conditions essential for performing his/her duties. The provisions of the Law of Obligations Act concerning authorisation agreements apply to the agreement.

(3) As a rule, the rector assumes office by taking the oath of office before the Board and the Senate at an inauguration ceremony. The inauguration ceremony may also be held after the rector assumes office. The assumption of office shall take effect, and the rector’s authority shall commence on the date approved by the Board.

(4) The text of the Rector’s oath of office is as follows: “As the Rector of Tallinn University of Technology, I do swear that I will abide by the laws of the Republic of Estonia and the Statutes of Tallinn University of Technology and will uphold the values of academic integrity. I pledge to perform my duties with dignity and honour, and to ensure the welfare of the university.”

(5) The rector signs the oath of office in the university’s book of honour.

§ 8. Failed election

(1) If the rector candidate does not receive at least two-thirds of the votes from the members of the Board, or if the Senate vetoes the elected rector, the election shall be considered failed. In such a case, the Board shall appoint an acting rector for a term of up to one year, or until a new rector is elected.

(2) The Chairman of the Board signs an agreement with the acting rector.

§ 9. Entry into force of the Regulation

The Regulation shall enter into force upon signature.