The reasons why they decided to run for rector differ from a personal perspective but are somewhat similar from a societal aspect.

Land emphasized that he has two main reasons for candidacy: "One answer is that the work is unfinished; the first term has passed unnoticed. We have achieved some things, but at the same time, we have started new initiatives that are still ongoing." The second reason for running is the exciting challenges ahead in the university’s development path. "If asked what I would do differently, I think nothing. The university has a clear goal to follow. It is not a straight line; we have to take small turns, but we manage that well," Land said.

His serious wish is to continue what has already been started because much has been achieved. "We have seen a breakthrough in the quality of research results, which is a good foundation for further progress; we have increased interdisciplinary cooperation between research groups, and one very important activity is the plan to involve significantly more external funding to strengthen engineering education."

Former president of the Academy of Sciences, Tarmo Soomere, admits that after 23 years working within the technical university structure, it is the right time to rephrase a famous question. "We should not ask what the technical university should do for you, but what you can do for the university."

And a lot can be done for TalTech.

Rapid Development and the Triumph of Artificial Intelligence

Nothing from the Soviet era can be found at TalTech anymore; nothing even reminds of that time. "The technical university has developed impressively in recent years," Soomere acknowledges. The university has taken a respectable place among the world’s technical universities, but TalTech’s visibility and impact are still relatively weak. "This is where the university has the most room for development," Soomere notes.

Of the three important aspects – teaching, excellent research, and serving society – according to the academician, teaching is going very well; TalTech has reached an international level. Research is quite good, at least quantitatively. "Estonian universities as a whole have failed in serving society," Soomere points to a six-year-old analysis of the science and innovation system. If we are not present in places where the first drafts of strategic programs are made and where Estonia’s future is discussed, we have not fulfilled that third mission. "This is not only technology transfer but leading social processes and discussions."

The bigger challenges TalTech must face, but not fear, are, according to Land, academic succession in teaching and reducing student dropout rates. In research and development, the direction is to increase the volume of high-level, science-based applied research in the business sector, more exhaustive utilization of intellectual property and potential, and the creation of new companies, broadly entrepreneurship cooperation. "We have many good people who can handle this."

Soomere highlighted the somewhat contradictory directions accompanying the triumph of artificial intelligence. "Artificial intelligence has come to stay. It must be smarter than humans, but its arrival also indirectly means that the value of those with manual skills in society increases. If AI invents something, it must be implemented. Currently, only those with very good knowledge combined with manual skills can do this. In this sense, the technical university is unique in society and must continue to develop and strengthen its engineering education."

Salaries Higher Than Elsewhere – and There Is a Desire to Maintain This

Work is ongoing, and the intention is to continue working on the career model and salaries of researchers and teaching staff. According to Land, TalTech has done a lot in improving tenure careers and salaries. The minimum salary for doctoral students and junior researchers has already been raised to 2300 euros. "We made a bold decision the year before last and significantly increased the salaries of academic staff conducting teaching," Land emphasizes. Their base salary is now, according to statistics, just under 3000 euros per month, which is on average almost 500 euros higher than in other Estonian universities.