Estonia’s maritime sector will increasingly need people with IT, data, legal and other specialist skills alongside seafarers. Yet it is still widely seen as a traditional industry centred on ships and sailing. Participants at WISTA Estonia’s annual seminar concluded that universities, businesses, the state and local authorities must work more closely together to bridge this gap.
Education
Liisi Särglep did not dream of becoming an engineer as a child. Her first plan was to study medicine, but when she was not admitted to the University of Tartu on her first attempt, her next choice took her to Tallinn University of Technology to study product development and production engineering.
Universities can give young people sound IT knowledge, but that may not be enough to find work. A collaboration between ESTDEV and TalTech examined experiences in Estonia, Kenya, Nigeria and Armenia to identify what helps IT graduates enter their profession. Success depends on more than the curriculum: practical experience, initiative, entrepreneurial skills and connections with employers are at least as important.
This year’s Young Engineer Award of the President of the Republic’s Cultural Foundation has been bestowed upon Karolina Kudelina-Zhang, an energy researcher at TalTech’s Virumaa College, and Annika Kaalep, Senior Biomedical Engineer and Head of Department at the North Estonia Medical Centre.
How can TalTech be shaped over the next decade into a driving force that cultivates engineers, generates technologies, and connects science with entrepreneurship? This question was tackled during the TalTech development strategy discussion “TalTech 2035 – Estonia’s Growth Platform of the Future?” by Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship Erik Puura, Tehnopol CEO Agnes Roos, Head of the Innovation and Technology Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Sigrid Rajalo, and TalTech Council member and CFO of the tech company Helmes, Madis Margus.
International researchers bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to Estonian science. But can our research and working environment offer enough support to attract talent to Estonia – and, just as importantly, to make them stay?
Andri Haran, the CEO of The Federation of Estonian Engineering sees great potential in the future of smart industry but acknowledges that the progress towards digitalization and automation in Estonian industry is uneven.
The future in which our children will live doesn’t ask if we are ready – it simply arrives, and we must decide what role we leave for humans in it.
Young people don’t choose a career in a vacuum – they are influenced by teachers, role models, and societal attitudes. To inspire more of them, especially girls, to pursue engineering and ICT, these fields need to be visible and familiar well before the moment of decision.
In May, a new rector will be elected at Tallinn University of Technology. The candidates are the current rector Tiit Land and academician and marine scientist Tarmo Soomere. You can watch the rector candidates' debate live on April 25 at 2:00 PM via Trialoog.