Aune Valk

Aune Valk (born 22 March 1972) is an Estonian psychologist and academic administrator. Since 2018, she has served as vice rector for academic affairs at the University of Tartu. Her academic work has focused on cross-cultural psychology, ethnic identity, interethnic relations, adult education and adult competencies. Before returning to the university leadership, she headed the Analysis Department of Estonia's Ministry of Education and Research and was one of Estonia's national project managers for the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).

Education and research Born in Tallinn, Valk studied psychology at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1994. She received a research master's degree in psychology in 1997 with the thesis Ethnic identity and national attitudes and completed a PhD in psychology in 2001 with the dissertation Two Facets of Ethnic Identity: Pride and Differentiation. In 2004, she undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Sussex and Clark University. She also contributed the chapter "Identity in an Open World" to the Estonian Human Development Report 2016/2017.

Career Valk began her career at the University of Tartu in the Department of Psychology, where she worked as an assistant and then as an extraordinary research fellow. In 2018, she joined rector Toomas Asser's administration as vice rector for academic affairs at the University of Tartu.

Honours Valk received the University of Tartu Badge of Distinction in 2006, the Citizen's Day Medal in 2016, the University of Tartu Medal in 2020, and the Order of the White Star, 4th Class, in 2024.

Selected publications Two Facets of Ethnic Identity: Pride and Differentiation (2001) "Ethnic Identity, Ethnic Attitudes, Self-Esteem, and Esteem toward Others among Estonian and Russian Adolescents" (2000) "Ethnic Attitudes in Relation to Ethnic Pride and Ethnic Differentiation" (with Kristel Karu, 2001) "Estonian Open Identity: Reality and Ideals" (with Kristel Karu-Kletter and Marianna Drozdova, 2011)