Kristi Viiding is the interim director of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre starting from September 1st. Her term will end at the end of 2027. Kristi Viiding has previously been the centre's leading researcher. The former director Jaan Undusk will now continue as a senior researcher.
The centre plans to hold a new public competition for the director's position. This will take place after the next evaluation. The previous evaluation, which took place last year, ended negatively for the centre. Although the centre received positive feedback for its scientific and societal impact, the required level of sustainability was not achieved.
The negative result means that the centre cannot apply for funding from the state. However, it can apply for funding from international sources. The next evaluation is expected to take place in 2027. By mid-September, the centre must submit its action plan for the next two years. The Ministry of Education and Research will then decide how much funding the centre will receive over the next two years.
The President of the Academy of Sciences Mart Saarma said that UTKK's scientific level is high and it employs very strong researchers. He believes that the centre should continue as an independent institution. Two years is time to prepare for the next evaluation and change the centre's activities. Kristi Viiding has also said that the centre has already begun making important changes.
Kristi Viiding has been the general secretary of the international association of Neo-Latinists for seven years. This has given her experience in management. She said that the centre has started filling the gaps in Estonian literary studies. The centre's structure needs modernization and the scientific council will become smaller, but an international advisory board will be added.
The Under and Tuglas Literature Centre is an institution of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. It was established in 1993. The centre studies Estonian and Estonian-language literary culture in a broad historical perspective. UTKK's first director was Piret Kruuspere. She was followed by Toomas Liiv and Jaan Undusk.