Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu is going to train IT Law experts

Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu is going to open a new field of study of IT Law in English for MA students in order to ensure training of highly qualified law specialists in IT field. Formation of this field of study has also been recognized with the “Idea of the Year” title by Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications.

“We have built up the programme according to the principle that the majority of the educational activities would imitate actual situations. For this purpose, experts in the field are going to carry out the studies,” said Eenmaa-Dimitrieva. She pointed out cooperation with the Institute of Computer Science of University of Tartu, with Martin Öövel, former Head of Division of Information Systems and Work Processes of the Ministry of Justice of Estonia, and with Michael N. Schmitt, Director of the Centre for the Study of International Law at the United States Naval War College and Senior Fellow of the Estonian Contingency of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

Those who complete the programme are IT Law specialists who have obtained all necessary technical and legal knowledge for doing quality job related to legislative drafting and analysis as well as expert work in the field of ICT, and for supporting the development and export of information technology solutions of the Estonian State Portal (e-State).

Taavi Kotka, Deputy Secretary General – ICT at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, who supports the development of IT Law field in Estonia, thinks that the new IT Law programme is essential for Estonia. “IT Law is a new field with great export potential and the fact that the University of Tartu is going to create a study programme for this is in every way worth recognition. Studies of law have been one of the most popular areas of specialization for years but the market does not offer professional employment for all of them anymore. At the same time, IT Law specialists are very difficult to find and they are offered much more competitive salary than average. Estonia is an IT state and our IT entrepreneurs need IT lawyers,” Kotka said.

Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) recognized the idea of creation of IT Law programme with the “Idea of the Year” title.
Tiit Paananen, member of the Management Board of ITL, emphasised that in addition to supporting the development of ICT sector, it is essential to increase the capability of other industrial sectors to use ICT. “ICT skills in other fields are an important source for creating extra value in economy,” said Paananen and added that it is the IT Law programme that will provide the students with new skills in order to establish new quality.

Source:
Virge Tamme
Press Officer of the UT
Phone: +372 737 5683
Mobile: +372 5815 5392
E-mail: virge.tamme@ut.ee

More information about studying in the University of Tartu: www.ut.ee/en

30 Jun 2014