TTÜ IT Kolledž kuulub TTÜ infotehnoloogia teaduskonna koosseisu.

Development plan

APPROVED BY
IT College Council on 28 May 2009,Protocol no. 3C-1/09-4.
Amendments approved with Protocol:
09.03.2010/3C-1/10-2
22.02.2011 /3C-1/11- 2
05.03.2012/3C-1/12-1

 

THE ESTONIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2011 – 2014

1. INTRODUCTION
2. MAIN GOALS
3. STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2011-2014
3.1. MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
3.2. STUDY PROCESS
3.3. FURTHER EDUCATION
3.4. SUPPORT STRUCTURE 
4. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Appendix 1
Appendix 2

 

1. INTRODUCTION

The Estonian Information Technology College (hereinafter – the IT College) is a private institution of professional higher education founded and managed by the Estonian Information Technology Foundation (EITF) that commenced its activities on 1 September 2000.

The mission of the IT College is to offer the best IT-related professional education in the region, by integrating the high-tech know-how with practical requirements of the society.

In planning its activities the IT College is based on the following:

  1. Higher education standards, the Institutions of Professional Higher Education Act, the Private Schools Act and other state regulations, the statute of the IT College and other internal documents.
  2. Developments and agreements affecting European and Estonian higher education: the Bologna Process, the Lisbon Strategy, the Estonian Higher Education Strategy etc.
  3. Cooperation with Estonian and foreign universities and institutions involved in higher education.
  4. Frequent contacts with IT and telecommunication companies and organizations.
  5. Strategic instruction of EITF. 

Development plan of the IT College is a strategic document that defines directions and priorities of development for 2011-2014. The integral part of the development plan is the table of consolidated indicators related to the main objectives provided in Annex 1. The action plans based on this development plan shall be updated annually.

2. MAIN GOALS

Offer of the high quality internationally acknowledged professional education, popularization of professional education related to information and communication technology (hereinafter – ICT) and adding value to the disciplines of the IT College through further education and advanced training are ensured in order to implement the mission of the IT College.
Structural units and representatives of particular areas with creative and innovative attitude provide for sustainable development of the IT College and achievement of the following main goals:

  1. Internationalization and cooperation with Estonian and foreign universities in the field of ICT education.
  2. Cooperation with ICT-related enterprises, the public sector and their associations.
  3. Modern academic and technical foundations for studies.
  4. Optimal number of students.
  5. Motivated and professional staff (academic and support personnel and students) along with quality-oriented organizational culture..

3. STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2011-2014

In order to achieve the main goals and to connect them with sectoral objectives of the IT College, the following matrix marks relations of various sectors with the main goals with an “x”.

Table 1. Relations of the main goals to the sectors
Highlighted background indicates the leading role of particular sector in achieving the main goals

Sector Internationalization and cooperation with Estonian and foreign universities in the field of ICT education Cooperation with ICT-related enterprises, the public sector and their associations Modern academic and technical foundations for studies Optimal number of students   Motivated and professional staff, quality-oriented organizational culture
Studies (general education)  x  x  x  x  
Further education    x    
Development  x  

Support structure

         

 – personnel

        x

 – marketing

 x x   x  

 – IT

  x x    

3.1. MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

The IT College has a low hierarchy structure that provides for optimal operations, flexible work organization and fast reaction to the changes.

As of 10 November 2012 there are 882 students in the IT College. The staff of the IT College consists of 12 regular faculty members, the rector, as well as heads of academic department and sectors. Support functions (accounting, legal advice, personnel management, IT, administration) are provided to the IT College by EITF support units. In addition to regular faculty members there are approximately 40 visiting lecturers, among whom are both university professors and experts from various companies and other organizations. The IT College involves its students (through the student representation organization) and the alumni (through various decision-making bodies) in its management activities.

 Figure 1. Structure of the IT College

The main goal of development activities is to perform applied research aimed at supporting the IT sector companies and increasing their competitiveness, to participate in cooperation projects and to facilitate international relations.

With regard to achieving the main goals the management and development aims at the following:

1. Facilitation of international relations

1.1. Conducting training in the English language;
1.2. Active participation in international exchange and development programs (Erasmus, etc.);
1.3. Participation in work of international (EURASHE- European Association of Institutions in Higher Education, EAIE- European Association for International Education etc.) higher education organizations and networks.

2. Partnership and development activities

2.1. Participation in work of Estonian higher education organizations (SA Rakenduskõrgkoolid (Foundations for Professional Higher Education Institutions), Kutsekoda (Estonian Qualifications Authority) etc.) and networks;
2.2. Development of scholarship and support programs;
2.3. Development of partnership relations with study institutions in the field of computer sciences;
2.4. Cooperation with companies and other organizations in ICT sector, including certifications centers;
2.5.Cooperation with libraries of partner universities;
2.6.Support for starting development projects and participation in such projects.

3. Quality management

3.1. The management system of the IT College has been analyzed (processes and relations between the processes have been described) and institutional accreditation has been performed;
3.2. In order to provide for efficiency of management the feedback system is in operation.

 

3.2. STUDY PROCESS

The main aims of curriculum development and study activities of the IT College follow from development requirements of the Estonian society, considering higher education trends of the European Union. The main aims of study activities are:

  1. Cooperation with the Estonian Qualifications Authority (Kutsekoda) and the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) provides for compliance of curriculum with changes in the ICT sector and expectations of employers with regard to competencies of graduates.
  2. To provide for constructive coherence (Constructive coherence – the concept of forming the integral whole from the parts of curriculum and study subjects. The coherence can be vertical and horizontal. Vertical coherence – the integrity of study subjects, modules and curriculum results. Horizontal coherence – is the coherence on the level of study subjects).
  3. Balanced integration of curriculums with corporate study programs (CCNA/CCNP – CISCO Network Academy, Microsoft, Oracle, etc.).
  4. Increasing support of e-learning (including content production) in all curriculums and ensuring quality of e-courses.
  5. Fulfilling the state education order according to the respective agreements.
  6. Decreasing the number of student dropouts (counseling, flexible organization of studies, study and evaluation methods that facilitate learning).
  7. Support of life-long education (including implementation of APEL).
  8. Providing study aids, professional literature and magazines both in print, on digital media and in form of access to digital libraries.

 

3.3. FURTHER EDUCATION

Based on the principles of life-long education, further education in the IT College is primarily aimed at reacting to the current needs of the education market, while training experts in the area. Thus the aims of further education include:

  1. Linking academic studies with further education based on requirements of different target groups.
  2. Increasing the volume of specialized training.
  3. Hobby education (robotics, open lectures, etc.) for various target groups.

 

3.4. SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Expediency of studies, research and development activities is provided by the support structure: infrastructure of the IT College, marketing and working with personnel. These areas support development of the IT College as a whole.

3.4.1. Infrastructure of the IT College

The IT College is located in the modern study building in Mustamäe with useful area of 3677m². The IT College strives to be the leading educational institution with regard to implementation of the latest technical solutions, and based on that the requirements towards the technical basis are as follows:

  1. Technical and software basis of the IT College

1.1.Preserving functionality of the technological infrastructure of the IT College, providing for compliance with interests of research and development activities;
1.2. The IT College strives to be the leading educational institution with regard to implementation and use of the latest technical solutions. The IT College values diversity of various platforms and operating systems on the computers and servers related to the work process as well as existence of high quality wireless connections;
1.3. The IT College uses licensed proprietary software (including free trial versions, where necessary) or free software. The software is constantly updated in order to provide for relevance of studies;
1.4. Provision of coherence of information systems and development activities.

3.4.2. Marketing of the IT College

1. Functioning of external and internal systems of the IT College

1.1. Development of the IT College brand considering various target groups;
1.2. Development of up-to-date digital marketing communication.

2. Preserving stable number of prospective students of hte IT College

2.1. Development of marketing with regard to curriculums for various target groups (markets);
2.2. Target marketing for IT-related high-school and professional education institutions.

3.4.3. Personnel of the IT College

1. Provision of academic sustainability

1.1. Provision of the level of publications in accordance with the result indicators;
1.2. Provision of the optimum size and qualification level of academic staff;
1.3. Increasing involvement of guest lecturers and implementation of mentoring for new instructors.

 2. Motivation of personnel

2.1. Conducting satisfaction surveys and regular development interviews;
2.2. Facilitating self-development of personnel and its participation in training;
2.3. Provision of the modern working environment.

 

 4. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

In order to increase efficiency of economic activities of the IT College, responsible attitude and rational use resources are supported along with saving on expenses and efficient budgeting. Additional resources necessary for development of the IT College are provided through cooperation and by partner organizations. The budget forecast considers educational order funds from the state budget, tuition fees as well as funds from further education and other projects.

Table 2. Forecast for the number of students of the IT College

Indicator 2010  2011  2012  2013  2014 
State budget funded students 361    450  443  442  431
    – including 1st year students  100  125  125  125  125
Non state-funded students  406  376  390  403  403
   – including 1st year students  120  120  120  120  120
TULE programme (Come Again, Graduate Successfully)  0  0  0  0  0
 Total  767  826  833  845  834

Among the sources of financing of the IT College are state educational order, tuition fees, participation in state and international programs and projects, rent, further education and sponsor support. Income forecast is outlined in Table 3.

Table 3. Forecast for study-related income of the IT College (in thousands euros)

Source 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Income 1662 1700 1740 1820 1915
including – state educational order   799   850   920  990  1020
– tuition fees    550   520  490  480  480
– further education     77    80  80  95  95
 – other income  236  250  250  255 320