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.
future talent
The maritime sector needs new employees and leaders, and attracting more women is increasingly discussed. Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International, the global network of women professionals in maritime, shipping, trade and logistics, believes real change is measured by the roles women attain and their opportunities to influence their organisations. If women remain mainly in support roles, much of their potential goes unused.
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.