Ragne Kõuts-Klemm re-elected as Head of the Institute of Social Studies
At the meeting on 9 June, the council of the Institute of Social Studies re-elected Ragne Kõuts-Klemm, Associate Professor in Sociology of Journalism, as head of the institute. Her new three-year term begins on 28 August 2025.
In her new term as the head of the institute, Ragne Kõuts-Klemm plans to continue supporting and developing outstanding research to improve the institute’s visibility in the fields of sociology and media and communication both in Estonia and internationally. The institute has established research fields led by experts in risk and resilience, military sociology, transitions, the mediatisation of the lives of children and youths, information disorder, well-being and journalism. The head of the institute plans to implement several ideas promoting the development of larger research groups and encouraging the growth of smaller ones. “The most important aspect in my view is developing the necessary support system to ensure that our researchers can focus on substantive activities and to reduce the workload in managing and coordinating projects,” she said.
The Institute of Social Studies is known in Estonia for its high teaching quality and innovative approach to studies. Diverse professional education and clearly targeted curricula help prepare educated specialists who can strengthen societal resilience and contribute to people’s well-being.
With the help of students and alumni, we will bring about a change towards a research-based and critically thinking society. In the upcoming years, we need to focus on expanding the skills of computational methods for the social sciences and addressing the challenges brought about by artificial intelligence.
Led by Ragne Kõuts-Klemm, a disinformation cooperation platform was launched to combine the expert knowledge of various units of the University of Tartu in the field of information resilience. Within the project, joint research projects are initiated, joint publications are written, and educational materials are created, which help prevent the spread of misinformation and influence operations. The Institute of Social Sciences plays a leading role in the project, as the study and teaching of media literacy are part of the institute’s core activities. Two years ago, an English-taught master’s curriculum, Disinformation and Societal Resilience, was opened on the initiative of Ragne Kõuts-Klemm. “Interdisciplinary cooperation needs strong encouragement but is well worth it, as the collaboration of people with diverse knowledge and perspectives generates fresh ideas and innovative approaches with good practical applications,” said Kõuts-Klemm.
Ragne Kõuts-Klemm graduated from the University of Tartu with a master’s degree in Sociology in 2002 and earned her doctoral degree in Media and Communication in 2013. Since 2021, she has been an Associate Professor in Sociology of Journalism at the University of Tartu. Her research focuses on journalism and media usage patterns, the functioning of media systems, and the role of journalism in society. She also participates in the work of the Estonian Academic Journalism Society, the supervisory board of SA Kultuurileht, and represents Estonia as an expert in the UNESCO programme focusing on media freedom and literacy.
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