Please introduce yourself

My name is Mirra Dubrovskaja. I am currently studying International Business Administration programme with a speciality in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at TalTech. I grew up in the coastal city of Klaipėda in Lithuania, but I was actually born here in Tallinn, as my mother is Estonian.

My grandfather was originally from Ukraine and moved to Estonia when he was still young, studied Estonian and Russian and later went to the University of Tartu. My mother was born in Tartu and later the family moved to Tallinn, where my mother studied pedagogy at Tallinn University. My father is from Lithuania, but he also has Ukrainian roots, so our family background has always been multicultural.

How much did you visit Estonia in childhood?  

My parents first lived in Tallinn for several years, and both my brothers and I were born here. Later, when my father received a job offer in Lithuania, our family moved to Klaipėda.

Even though I grew up in Lithuania, Estonia was always present in my life. Every summer we visited my relatives in Tallinn. Some of my strongest childhood memories are connected to Estonia. I remember visiting Tallinn Zoo, which felt very special to me because we did not have anything like that in Klaipėda. I also loved watching Lotte films as a child, and later visiting Lottemaa was a very bright and memorable experience. Another place I remember clearly is Vembu-Tembumaa, which felt like another world to me as a child. I also loved Estonian winters, because there always seemed to be more snow than in Lithuania.

When I was around 12, I started going to Kotka lastelaager, a summer camp near Tallinn, together with my cousin. I remember being very inspired by the creative, active and ambitious people I met there. After that, I returned to the camp every year, and my connection with Tallinn became stronger.

How much Estonian do you speak?

When I was 16, I joined the Noored summer camp, which was organised for young people with Estonian roots who live outside Estonia. That camp became the beginning of my Estonian language journey. I started learning the very basics of the language and became even more interested in Estonia. I enjoyed the experience so much that I went there two years in a row. Around the same age, I also participated in a malev working camp, which gave me another chance to spend time in Estonia, meet people and understand the local environment better.

I took Estonian language courses at TalTech during my first and third semesters. In my third semester, I also joined the national Estonian language courses for international students through the Integration Foundation and successfully completed A2 level. At the moment, I am not taking any language courses, but I hope to continue learning Estonian during my final semester, after completing my autumn Erasmus semester in Italy.

Where did you first hear about TalTech?

I have always loved Tallinn. As I mentioned, I used to come to Estonia every summer and attend summer camps here. During those camps, I met many interesting, creative and inspiring people. Some of the camp counsellors were also students at TalTech, so even though I did not know much about the university at that time, the name stayed in my mind.

When it was time to choose a university, I knew that I wanted to study abroad, gain international experience and meet more like-minded people. I was also looking at universities in Western Europe, but housing prices were very high and the competition for accommodation was quite intense. Comfort, safety and peace were also important criteria for me, and Tallinn seemed to fit all of them perfectly.

After reading one book, I became more interested in the field of economics and business. When I started researching universities, I thought: why not see what Tallinn has to offer? Then I found the International Business Administration programme at TalTech, and it sounded like a perfect fit for me. I have never regretted this decision.

Why did you decide to study International Business Administration and what do you think about the study programme today?  

At that time, I was not 100% sure what I wanted to study. It was difficult to choose one field because I was interested in many different things. What caught my attention about the International Business Administration programme at TalTech was that it gives students a strong economic and business foundation during the first year. Then, in the second year, after gaining more understanding of the field, you have the opportunity to choose the speciality you are more inclined towards.

I think this is very helpful, because it reduces the pressure of having to choose your whole future at the age of 18. I was also very interested in the opportunity to go on Erasmus during my studies, which TalTech also offers. Another advantage is that TalTech has a free gym, and the campus is surrounded by forests and parks, which makes the environment very pleasant.

Today, I am very happy with my decision and with TalTech in general. The programme gives you the opportunity to try different subjects, from economics and accounting to courses such as developing your own start-up. On the other hand, I feel that the Marketing and Entrepreneurship speciality could offer more marketing-related courses. For example, in two years, we had only one proper marketing course — E-Marketing — which, to this day, I consider the most useful, interesting and directly related to marketing.

Where could a graduate of this study programme continue studying or work in future?

As I mentioned before, one of the biggest advantages of this programme is its versatility. After graduation, students can continue with a master’s degree in many different fields, such as Finance, Accounting, Management, Consumer Behaviour, Data Analytics, Human Resource Management or Project Management.

Graduates can also create their own start-up or open a business. If they choose the Finance speciality, they can work in banking, investments, corporate finance or analytics, for example as a financial analyst or accounting assistant. If they are more interested in creative and communication-related work, they can move into marketing, PR, brand communication or business development.  

How is a student life at TalTech and in Tallinn overall? Are there extracurricular activities, internships, student clubs or professional networking possibilities?  

Student life at TalTech is very vibrant and active. There are two student organisations at TalTech that are especially suitable for English-speaking students. One of them is Startup Garage, which is a great place for young entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life, find partners for projects, socialise and network”Cheering for TalTech’s Basketball team”

The other organisation is ESN TalTech IC — Erasmus Student Network — which I personally joined in my first year. ESN helped me adapt to a new environment very quickly, and I found people who became almost like a second family to me. Through ESN, I also had the opportunity to work as a Communication Manager, which helped me realise my passion for marketing and influenced my choice of speciality.

ESN offers many opportunities to try yourself in different fields. For example, you can become a Treasurer and develop your financial skills, a Communication Manager and improve your marketing skills, a Vice President and develop HR-related skills, a President and gain management experience, or an Event Manager and strengthen your organisational skills. Besides these board roles, you can also simply be a member or volunteer, take part in events, meet people from different countries, and gain many soft skills, such as international communication, creativity, stress resilience and teamwork.

Another thing I really appreciate about TalTech is how much the university supports an active lifestyle. There are many sports clubs and activities students can join, such as volleyball, basketball and other group trainings. As a student, you can also attend different free classes, including yoga, pilates and acrobatics. For me, as someone who enjoys an active lifestyle and sports, this was a very positive surprise. I feel that both TalTech and Estonia in general create a good environment for people who want to stay active and try new activities.  

Apart from student organisations, TalTech also supports students in finding internships and professional opportunities. There is an internship portal where students can find different offers, and the university also regularly shares information about projects, exclusive internship opportunities and other possibilities. Personally, I got my first internship with TalTech’s help, so I can say from my own experience that this support can be very useful. In addition, there are always events happening on campus, from networking events to various workshops and free seminars.

What has been the most unexpected, positive, or funny experience you’ve had with Estonians while living here so far?

One of my most positive experiences has been joining the acrobatics club at TalTech’s gym. I did not expect to find such a warm and supportive community there. The group brings together many passionate young Estonians, and the atmosphere is very motivating. Our coach, Mart, is also incredibly supportive, and he creates an environment where people feel encouraged to try, improve and not be afraid of making mistakes.

What do you miss the most back in Lithuania? Is it easy to travel home from Tallinn?  

What I miss most is probably the Curonian Spit, our beaches, the dunes and, of course, slightly warmer weather.  

Travelling from Tallinn to Klaipėda is a bit of a hassle, because there are no direct buses or flights, so I usually need to transfer in Riga. However, travelling from Tallinn to Vilnius or Kaunas is much easier and usually quite affordable.

Would you recommend other students from Lithuania to take a similar step and study at TalTech? Why?  

Yes, definitely. I think Estonia is a perfect golden middle between a modern, digitalised country and a place with a lot of nature and calmness. It feels safe, organised and comfortable, but at the same time there are many opportunities for growth.

For Lithuanian students, I think Estonia is also not too culturally distant. The mentality is quite similar in some ways — people can be calm, reserved and practical, which feels familiar. At the same time, Tallinn is much more international than I expected, so you can meet people from many different countries and gain a diverse experience.

I would especially recommend TalTech to students who are interested in business, technology, start-ups, innovation or international opportunities. There are many chances to join student organisations, attend events, network, and try yourself in different fields.

What would you like to after graduating from university?  

After graduating, I would like to work in the field of marketing, especially in an international company where I can continue developing my skills in communication, branding and digital marketing. I am interested in how people think, make decisions and respond to different messages, so recently I have also been considering continuing my studies with a master’s degree in Marketing Psychology, Consumer Behaviour or a similar field.

At the moment, I am still exploring different directions within marketing, but I know that I would like my future work to combine creativity, strategy and understanding people.

Would you consider moving to Estonia in future to settle down here?  

I would definitely consider moving to Estonia in the future, because I genuinely love it here. Of course, it also depends on where I find work and what opportunities are available after graduation. In my field, marketing, it can be challenging to find a position in Estonia without speaking Estonian fluently, although it is not impossible, especially because there are many international companies here. I do not lose hope, and at the moment I am trying to gain as much relevant experience as possible before finishing university.

For me, Estonia is not just a country where I study. It is a place connected to my family, childhood memories, personal growth and future ambitions.