TTÜ IT Kolledž kuulub TTÜ infotehnoloogia teaduskonna koosseisu.

The Tiger University program

ESTONIAN NATIONAL ICT PROGRAM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

The Program has been approved by the Government of Estonia on January 8, 2002.

1. BACKGROUND

2. ACTION PLAN

3. BUDGET

1. BACKGROUND

The Tiger Leap Program that was launched in 1996 was aimed at the computerization of the high schools. The targets were achieving the ratio of one PC per 10-20 students, Internet connection to each school, and the basic computer training for all teachers. The Tiger Leap Foundation was set up for implementing the program. Most of the set goals have been achieved by today. Besides the state financing, the program has attracted considerable and increasing backing from the local governments and the private sector. The program has received support at home and abroad, and has helped to shape Estonia’s reputation as a successful and progressive country. Tiger Leap has become a positive trademark characterizing Estonia.

Tiger Leap Program was aimed at the high schools – this new young generation with the information and communication technology (ICT) skills has by now reached the universities. The society’s demand for the ICT-related competence has grown all the time. The Estonia’s R&D strategic paper “Knowledge-based Estonia” identifies ICT as a key area for success. As a result two issues that influence the development of the whole society have risen.

First. The ICT infrastructure of the universities and other higher educational establishments and the organization of the academic work thereof do not meet the needs and expectations of the renewed student body.

Second. The ICT related science and education have not advanced as fast as the social significance of that field. Estonia has become consumer of ICT without creating any considerable domestic added value. We are not reproducing our ICT professors and scientists, not to mention the labor needs of export industry with internationally recognized innovation levels.

The second problem has been repeatedly addressed and in 2000 the government together with the leading universities in Estonia decide to establish the Estonian Information Technology Foundation (EITF). EITF was called to life with a task to set up the IT College and support the ICT education at other higher educational establishments. Unfortunately the issue of the sustainable development of the college has still not been resolved, not to mention supporting the ICT training at other universities.

Solving the first problem with the means that are at the universities’ disposal (i.e. finances from government order to universities) is not realistic, because from 1996 the financing level per student has constantly decreased forcing the universities to limit even essential investments.

For the aforementioned reasons and for the purpose of guaranteeing the sustainable development of ICT sector in Estonia, a National ICT Program for Higher Education must be launched. Together with the Tiger Leap Plus Program that with lesser financial means extends the accomplishments of the Tiger Leap Program, the tiger leap in higher education should be focused at solving the two problems listed above.

The three-year national program could be called Tiger University and its goals would be:

Support for the development of the ICT infrastructure at higher educational establishments,

Support for the development of ICT academic staff and degree courses’ infrastructure.

The program runs for 3 years, while the costs of direct additional financing for the degree studies should be covered longer (i.e. a masters student who started in 2004 should receive support also in 2005).

The Tiger University Program can be realized through the newly established EITF, also delegating to it the task of compiling detailed program plan. Considering the involvement of the private sector to the current activities of EITF, that would ensure the coordination with the private initiatives. It is probably reasonable to set up an additional mechanism to coordinate the activities with “Look AT World” project.

2. ACTION PLAN

The action plan of the Tiger University is the following:

I. Development of the ICT infrastructure at higher educational establishments

Developing the ICT infrastructure of higher educational establishments, completing the broadband intranet, procuring the general-purpose software. The goal is to achieve a ratio of 1:10 of computers to students. (Currently that ratio at the public universities is 1:20 or higher). The program supports covering up to 50% of the respective costs of the universities through project competitions that take into account the applicants existing ICT infrastructure and the share of applicant’s own financial input. 24% of the whole Tiger University Program.

Support for applying ICT in projects at some more focused (not IT) area. Investments like video conferencing equipment or multimedia lab can be financed. The program supports covering up to 50% of the respective costs of the universities through project competitions that take into account the applicants existing ICT infrastructure and the share of applicant’s own financial input. 12% of the whole Tiger University Program.

II. Support for strengthening the ICT training

Bonuses for the ICT lecturers. The Tiger University finances academic work of degree programs in ICT areas and orders the most needed ICT courses that mutually support the academic work at Estonian universities by paying bonuses to the lecturers. The list of the degree programs and the courses will be compiled by the committed which members are nominated by the rectors of the universities that carry out degree level ICT studies. 16% of the whole Tiger University Program.

Additional means for the ICT students’ degree studies, which are scholarships to the master and doctorate students in IT areas, but also compensation for mentoring. Preference will be given to matching scholarships with private or foreign sources – if a business covers part of the scholarship, then Tiger University covers the other part (this, by the way, enables to avoid levying taxes on the share that business puts in). 8% of the whole Tiger University Program.

Equipping the special purpose study and science laboratories. The program supports covering up to 50% of the respective costs of the universities through project competitions that take into account the share of applicant’s own financial input. 16% of the whole Tiger University Program.

III. Launching the IT College. 20% of the whole Tiger University Program.

IV. Administrative costs are 4% of the total.

3. ESTIMATED BUDGET

Below are the estimates of the program budget per year by subprograms and revenue sources.

EXPENSE:

I. Development of the ICT infrastructure of the higher educational establishments

1. Developing the ICT infrastructure of higher educational establishments, completing the broadband intranet, procuring the general-purpose software 12 MEEK

2. Support for ICT projects 6 MEEK

II. Support for strengthening the ICT training

3. Bonuses for the ICT lecturers 8 MEEK

4. Additional means for the ICT students’ degree studies 4 MEEK

5. Equipping the special purpose study and science laboratories 8 MEEK

III. Launching the IT College 10 MEEK

IV. Administrative Costs 2 MEEK

Total Expenses: 50 MEEK

REVENUE:

1. From State budget 36 MEEK

2. Donations 14 MEEK

Total Revenues: 50 MEEK

Program allocations should be made by public and open competitions administered by EITF. For evaluating the project applications a Tiger University Program Committee would be set up at the EITF.

This project has been approved by the Council of the EITF on April 16, 2001, and by the Informatics Council at the Ministry of Transport and Communications on September 7, 2001.

tThe Government of Estonia approved the Program on January 8, 2002.