2013

Sixth-year medical student wins Audiere scholarship for audiology studies in UK

Maret Lepplaan, a medical student in his sixth year of studies at the University of Tartu, has been awarded an Audiere scholarship to study audiology at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. The scholarship, which was established on the initiative of the NGO Audiere and with the support of the Association of Estonian Ear, Nose and Throat Doctors and the Head and Neck Surgeons Society, supports the training of audiologists in Manchester.

Hearing science is not taught in Estonia and no specialists in the field have emerged in the last twenty years. However, the need for modern audiologists in the country is constantly increasing, because the number of patients suffering from early deafness is on the rise. Audiologists also deal with the care and rehabilitation of the deaf and patients with cochlear implants.

Lepplaan began her studies in Manchester as the first Audiere scholarship recipient in autumn 2013. Master’s programmes in audiology at the University of Manchester are led by Dr Kai Uus.

One of the major contributors to the Audiere scholarship is the British-Estonian Chamber of Commerce, while a significant part of the 6400-euro fund comes from the mission prize awarded to Audiere by the Aadu Luukas Foundation and other donations made to Audiere. The scholarship was presented at a special ceremony held on 4 April at the residence of the British ambassador to Estonia.