In his brief vision statement, Tarmo Soomere highlights that the role of Estonian universities in serving society has so far been modest. According to him, TalTech should take a leading role in this area – clarifying its social mission, contributing to its implementation, and making the university’s value understandable to politicians, entrepreneurs, and the general public.
In the field of research, Soomere considers TalTech’s international visibility too modest compared to the actual potential of its researchers. He believes this gap must be bridged to enhance both the university’s reputation and the quality of education.
Regarding engineering education, Soomere emphasizes that it is inherently expensive, but by serving society more profoundly, it can also gain broader political and economic support.
Tarmo Soomere. Photo: TalTech
Tiit Land’s vision also focuses on the quality of teaching and research. He emphasizes the importance of reducing student dropout rates and increasing admissions, particularly in engineering, IT, and technology fields.
According to him, the university’s research quality has undergone a significant transformation in recent years – more research results are being published in top journals, doctoral students have become junior researchers, and their increased salaries have reduced dropout rates. Teaching is also gaining greater recognition.
Land highlights that TalTech aims to strengthen collaboration with businesses and contribute to the development of the defense industry by establishing a cross-faculty excellence center. In terms of serving society, he envisions a role for TalTech in policy-making and participating in public debates.
Tiit Land. Photo: TalTech
The debate between rector candidates will be moderated by ERR journalist Johannes Tralla.
The Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Senate will express its position on the candidates on April 29. The rector will be elected by the university council on May 9, and the Senate has the right to veto this decision until June 9.
To be eligible for the position of rector, a candidate must have been appointed as a professor at a university and hold a doctoral degree or an equivalent academic degree. The candidate must be supported by at least one council member.
Since Estonia regained its independence, the rectors of TalTech have been: Olav Aarna (1991–1999), Andres Keevallik (2000–2005, 2010–2015), Peep Sürje (2005–2010), Jaak Aaviksoo (2015–2020), and since 2020, Tiit Land.
