“We are all feeling a healthy sense of excitement before the start of the academic year—students, lecturers and researchers alike,” says Rector Tiit Land. “On the one hand, society expects us to educate more engineers, as well as graduates in all other fields. On the other, the breakneck pace at which artificial intelligence is developing is casting both learning and teaching in an entirely new light. But we are ready for the challenge.”

At the opening ceremony of the new academic year in Mustamäe on 28 August, new students will be welcomed by Rector Tiit Land, Alumnus of the Year Arvi Hamburg and Rain Samarüütel, Chair of the Student Union Board. The ceremony will be followed by the traditional group photo of the rector and first-year students in the university’s courtyard. The ceremony will be streamed live.

A Guide for New Students and Settling In

During the final week of August, new students had the opportunity to explore the university campus and learn more about student organisations.

Ivar Annus, Vice-Dean of the School of Engineering, has compared primary and secondary education to riding a bicycle with training wheels: if you veer too far to one side, a training wheel—the teacher—helps guide you back onto the right path.

“When you enter university, you have to take off the training wheels and take responsibility for staying upright yourself. Lecturers are more like coaches and mentors who offer guidance and share their knowledge and experience, but staying on track and keeping to your study schedule is your own responsibility.”

The autumn programme at TalTech will culminate in the Campus Festival on 4 September, the 108th Anniversary Academic Ceremony of Tallinn University of Technology on 17 September, and Researchers’ Night on 25 September.