Presented in partnership with Paekalda Holiday Centre, this award honors the Student Friend of the Year. The recipient is someone who supports, inspires, and champions the student body. Nominations were open to organizations, university departments, and individuals who provide opportunities for students, sponsor awesome student events, or enhance student life in any other meaningful way. This year, the title of Student Friend of the Year was awarded to Tiit Land.
But who is this year’s Student Friend of the Year, Tiit Land? Students might often see him presenting awards and giving speeches at official events, but you are just as likely to spot him playing ping-pong against opponents dressed in cow costumes during a game of Longero-pong, or cheering from the front row for the mud wrestlers at the Student Summer Games. Above all, however, he is known as the Rector of TalTech.
Rector Tiit and the rest of the university leadership stand out because they never need to be persuaded to attend student events—often, they have already planned to come before even being asked. They are also widely recognized for supporting student organizations and advocating for their interests. The Student Union feels genuinely included in the university’s development and strategic discussions. According to student organizations, knowing that the university firmly stands behind them and values their contribution is truly priceless.
While actively cheering on the students and making good-natured appearances in social media videos helps boost the visibility of student initiatives, the students themselves consider one contribution to be among the most vital: under the leadership of Rector Tiit Land, the university always strives to secure the financial resources needed to bring their various projects to life.
