Kristina Kallas
Eesti 200 party
In undertaking to perform the duties of a member of the Government of the Republic, I am aware that I shall bear responsibility in this office before the Republic of Estonia and my conscience. I solemnly swear to remain faithful to the constitutional order of the Republic of Estonia and to devote my strength to securing the welfare and future of the people of Estonia.
23 July 2024, Tallinn
Minister of Education and Research from 23 July 2024
Kristina Kallas was born in Kiviõli on 29 January 1976. Kallas is one of the founders of the political party and its deputy chairman.
Career
- In 2023-2024 Minister of Education and Research
- From 2021, she has been a member of the Tartu City Council.
- In 2020, she was a consultant of OSCE in Georgia for the evaluation of the multilingual education and integration policy of the government.
- In 2019, she was a consultant of OSCE with the Moldovan government for the programme for shaping the Moldovan ethnic policy.
- From 2019, she has been a researcher at the University of Tartu.
- In 2018-2022, she was the chairman of the political party Estonia 200.
- In 2016, she was a consultant of OSCE to the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan for the evaluation of the integration programme of Kyrgyzstan.
- In 2015–2019, she was the Director of the Narva College of the University of Tartu and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Integration Foundation.
- In 2011–2015, she was a member of the board of MTÜ Eesti Pagulasabi (the Estonian Refugee Council).
- In 2007–2015, she was a member of the board of MTÜ Balti Uuringute Instituut (the Institute of Baltic Studies).
- In 2007–2008, she was an extraordinary research fellow at the University of Tartu.
- In 2002–2006, she was a senior consultant at Hill and Knowlton Estonia AS.
- In 1998–2001, she was the national contact person for the EU’s 5th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation at the EU Innovation Centre of the Archimedes Foundation.
Education
Graduated from the University of Tartu in 2000 with a degree in history, obtained a master’s degree in the same field from the Central European University in Hungary in 2002, and a PhD in political science from the University of Tartu in 2016. She speaks Estonian, English, Russian and Polish.
Other
Kristina Kallas is the President of the Estonian Handball Association.
About the job of the Minister of Education and Research
The Minister of Education and Research chairs the Ministry of Education and Research and is responsible for its area of governance.
The minister is appointed and released from office by the President of the Republic on the proposal of the prime minister. The minister will assume office by taking an oath of office before the Riigikogu.
- The Minister of Education and Research is responsible for the targeted and effective development of education, research, youth, and language policies, and coordinates to ensure the high level of R&D excellence and competitiveness.
- The Minister of Education and Research directs the work of the Ministry of Education and Research and decides on matters falling within its area of governance. In addition, the minister reports to the Government of the Republic on the activities of the Ministry of Education and Research and submits proposals for decisions on matters concerning the ministry’s area of governance.
- The Minister of Education and Research appoints the heads of the government agencies under the ministry’s area of governance and the deputy secretary generals and heads of the departments of the ministry.
- The Minister of Education and Research submits proposals to the government on the budget of the ministry and, if necessary, on the supplementary budget. The minister also decides on the use of budgetary resources and monitors the implementation of the budget. On the basis of the national budget, the minister also approves the budgets of the government agencies under the ministry’s area of governance.
- The Minister of Education and Research decides on the establishment of the government agencies managed by the ministry and approves their statutes, structure, and work organisation.
Ministry of Education and Research
The main task of the Ministry of Education and Research is ensuring the targeted and effective development of education, research, youth, and language policies, and a high level of R&D excellence and competitiveness.
Read moreOrganisation of work of the Government of the Republic
The government implements the state’s domestic and foreign policy. The government makes decisions on a collegial basis on behalf of the executive. The competence of ministers in managing ministries and the areas of responsibility of ministers are determined with an order of the prime minister.
Read more (EST)
