Võrdlussöünad

Võrdlussöönad is an annual competitive lecture series organized by Estonian universities to promote comparative academic discourse among postgraduate students. The event typically takes place during the late spring semester and attracts participants from fields such as economics, law, political science, and cultural studies. Each participant is assigned a topic that requires them to compare two or more phenomena—such as policy frameworks, social movements, or theoretical models—within a limited speaking time, usually between ten and fifteen minutes.

The format of Võrdlussöönad is designed to challenge students to synthesize diverse perspectives and present clear, argumentative structures. After the initial set of speech rounds, a panel of faculty judges evaluates the presentations on criteria including originality, analytical depth, clarity of arguments, and engagement with comparative methodology. The top performances receive scholarships and opportunities to publish their papers in university journals.

Originating in 2002 as a small workshop at the Tallinn University of Technology, the program expanded rapidly to include all major Estonian institutions. It has become a staple of the academic calendar, closely linked with the annual Estonian Conference on Comparative Studies. Frequently, participants are invited to discourse with international scholars visiting Estonia, enhancing the event’s global relevance. Võrdlussöönad also includes a colloquium where former winners discuss how comparative analysis has informed their subsequent research projects and career paths. The series remains a key platform for fostering critical thinking, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and the professional development of Estonia’s emerging scholars.