Tallinn University of Technology has reason to aspire to be among the top in the world, international experts say

The international accreditation assessment committees included heads of higher education institutions, consultants and professionals from the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania and Estonia.

The committee acknowledged the activities of Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) in the internationalization process, its success in yielding research funds from Estonian and EU resources and increase in the amount of research contracts signed with enterprises. “Most of the university campus has been completed, which is evidence of efficient management of financial resources,” TUT said.

The student support systems and various initiatives in the development of entrepreneurship, such as launching the European Innovation Academy and the activities of Tallinn Science Park and the Innovation and Business Centre Mektory, also impressed the committee members.

In the coming years, the committee recommends the university to focus on improving the efficiency of PhD studies, to find ways to diversify the sources of income, to increase interdisciplinary and to update the system of continuing education. One of the recommendations of the committee is addressed rather to the state of Estonia – to decrease project-based funding of research in order to ensure long-term research development in the areas of importance for Estonia.

“The decision of the accreditation assessment committee confirms that TUT is on the right track and no significant changes are required in the fields of study or in study programmes, we just need to become increasingly better in every sphere,” Erkki Truve, TUT’s Vice-Rector for Research said.

The international experts pointed out management and development of the university’s infrastructure, including the study information system ÕIS and efficient collaboration with the employers in the development of study programs. The committee recommended to set clear priorities and attainable goals in research and development and to increase international mobility of the academic staff and students.

The goal of external evaluation is to support the development of strategic development and quality culture in Estonian higher education institutions.

11. veebr 2015