Professor Pappel, what are your main goals as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs?

My primary goal is to shape TalTech into an environment where learning is flexible, of high quality, and meaningful for students.

First, I want to ensure that our teaching is student-centred and data-driven, making use of artificial intelligence to create personalised learning paths, provide real-time feedback, and support students’ individual developmental needs.

Second, I consider interdisciplinarity vital. Future challenges—whether related to climate change, cybersecurity, or the digital economy—do not fit within the boundaries of a single discipline. Therefore, the university must already provide students with opportunities to experience how solutions are found through cooperation across different fields.

It is equally important to link theoretical knowledge with real-world problems. I want our students to apply their learning immediately in real-life projects, to collaborate with companies and the public sector, and to see how their knowledge creates value for society. Challenge-based learning formats are highly suitable here, as they develop not only professional skills but also teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Developing students’ critical thinking is just as crucial, since technological advances, the role of AI, and societal changes continually raise new questions with no single correct answers. Our graduates must be able to reflect on such issues, weigh ethical, social, and economic aspects, and make well-argued decisions.

Another priority is developing more effective cooperation with the EuroTeQ universities, including joint curricula and micro-degrees, enabling students to gain international experience, pursue more flexible learning paths, and broaden their studies in ways that benefit both the labour market and society at large. If we succeed in creating a learning environment where technical competence goes hand in hand with critical thinking, practical experience, and international cooperation, then I will have fulfilled my mission as Vice-Rector.

How do you envision your field at TalTech in ten years’ time?

In ten years, I imagine TalTech’s teaching deeply integrated with AI and smart learning environments. Each student’s learning path will be personalised, with the system helping them find their individual pace, suggesting options, and providing additional support where necessary.

At the same time, learning will be highly interdisciplinary: complex societal challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, or broader digital economy issues cannot be solved within a single discipline. Students will therefore learn early on to collaborate with specialists from different fields.

Learning will also be challenge-based and problem-based, with students working together with companies, researchers, and communities to solve real-world issues. This means graduates will leave not only with knowledge but also with the experience of applying their skills and contributing to society.

The cooperation model with EuroTeQ universities will, in ten years, allow students to move between partner institutions, participate in joint curricula, and obtain micro-degrees. This will broaden their academic and cultural experience and make TalTech’s teaching more international, flexible, and valuable for both students and society.

Which past achievements and roles give you confidence for the next four years as Vice-Rector?

Above all, my previous experience as a developer of study programmes, leader of international projects, and researcher. For over ten years, I have led TalTech’s international Master’s programme in e-Governance Technologies and Services, which has become one of the university’s global calling cards. The programme is an excellent example of interdisciplinarity, combining IT, public administration, law, and economics within one curriculum. It has trained specialists capable of driving digital transformations in both the public and private sectors. For me, leading the programme has taught the importance of balancing long-term strategy with day-to-day solutions and of keeping an international programme sustainable through various changes and challenges.

My confidence is also reinforced by my experience as a leader of international research and development projects. I have been involved in several initiatives, including the AI4Gov project supported by the European Commission, focusing on applying AI in public services. Together with TalTech colleagues, we have also advised on building digital states, including curriculum development in Kenya and Ukraine, helping to translate Estonia’s digital experience into international practice. The recent EGov4Youth project, which promotes youth engagement in e-governance, demonstrates that our work has societal relevance beyond academia.

I also draw strength from my role as head of the research group on digital governance technologies. This role links research and practice, offering constant insight into emerging technological opportunities and challenges. My research focuses on applying AI and smart architectures in the public sector, and I have seen how scientific innovation can immediately influence society and public services. For example, we have developed AI-based solutions in e-commerce taxation, where our researchers’ tools process applications many times faster and more accurately than before.

I am also proud of initiatives that promote inclusion and access to digital education. In the GovStack initiative, the Women in GovTech programme trained over 100 women from 59 countries, providing them with the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in the technology sector. Such projects demonstrate how teaching and research can have broad societal impact, creating equality and opening opportunities.

All these experiences share three guiding principles: an interdisciplinary approach, the strategic use of AI and digital technologies, and challenge-based learning that directly connects the university to societal needs and development directions. These principles have guided me in leading programmes and projects, and they will continue to shape my work as Vice-Rector. With them, I am confident that over the next four years we can make TalTech’s teaching stronger, more international, and more future-oriented.

What will become of your current research and your doctoral students?

Although the role of Vice-Rector is very demanding, I do not want to step away from research or from my doctoral students. On the contrary, I see these areas as mutually supportive and enriching. I will continue supervising my PhD students, as young researchers drive forward interdisciplinary and innovative ideas and bring fresh perspectives into teaching and research. My own research will continue to focus on applying digital education and AI in learning, as well as more broadly on developing digital state architectures and services in public sector organisations.

One key project on my desk is GovStack, which aims to build and share core components of the digital state so that countries can develop e-services more quickly and cost-effectively. This project is especially close to my heart because it allows Estonia’s digital expertise to be shared globally, not just theoretically but also through piloting and testing solutions in different countries. GovStack provides a platform for Estonian researchers and students to participate in international innovation projects.

My research projects and international cooperation add valuable dimensions to my role as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs—keeping me up to date with global trends, feeding into curriculum renewal, and ensuring that TalTech remains a visible and influential international partner.

What inspires you most in your professional life? And in your free time?

What inspires me most is seeing real impact—whether it is a student realising they have gained skills at TalTech that make them stand out in their field, or a lecturer discovering new tools and methods that make teaching more enjoyable and effective.

I am also strongly motivated by international cooperation: the world is highly interested in Estonia’s digital governance experience and in applying AI in education. Being able to share this knowledge, pilot new solutions, and see them bring real change to societies gives my work deeper meaning and inspires me to keep going.

In my free time, I seek balance and creativity. I have always been sporty, as physical activity helps to clear my mind and maintain energy. For me, yoga is more than exercise—it is a lifestyle that teaches focus, calmness, and balance. I also greatly enjoy reading science fiction, a genre that expands imagination and encourages reflection on how technology might shape society in the future. Often I find ideas in sci-fi books that I carry into my professional life, as fantasy and science complement each other.

Travelling is another passion, as experiencing other cultures broadens one’s view of the world and opens new perspectives on human and societal development.