Kristjan Lill, a member of the road construction and geodesy research group at the Institute of Construction and Architecture and the head of the Roads and Traffic Research and Testing Laboratory, is a highly experienced and respected specialist. In addition to his responsible work at the accredited laboratory, he successfully mentored four students to graduation in the 2023/24 academic year. His courses received very high ratings from students: “The laboratory sessions and subsequent seminars were exciting, and it was great that students could take a sample of asphalt home after the lab,” and “The lecturer is helpful and pleasant. The lecturer knows the subject matter very well. I definitely commend the cool and instructive practical sessions,” students write.

Igor Krupenski, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Energy Technology, has supervised three students' theses during the 2023/24 academic year. He is the responsible lecturer for several courses and a key figure in delivering educational content. Students highlight his ability to make complex theories easy and even enjoyable to understand, and they also praise his personality: “The best teacher at our institute! He explains simply and logically, encourages questions, and provides practical examples”; “A very pleasant and efficient lecturer, I praise! He knows how to engage students and how to communicate with them.”

Maarja Grossberg-Kuusk, a professor, director, and program director at the Institute of Materials and Environmental Technology, stands out for her boundless energy. Despite her numerous responsibilities and roles, she successfully mentored three students and taught seven (!) different courses during the 2023/24 academic year. The students' feedback speaks for itself: “The lecturer's in-depth knowledge and immersion in the field is impressive.”

Toomas Tamm, an associate professor at the Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, has earned recognition from students because his courses are well-structured, logically organized, and clearly presented. His Moodle course is considered a model of quality for other lecturers in terms of both structure and content. Students describe him as a highly professional lecturer who always follows the rules while also being very helpful and supportive. They appreciate his deep dedication to teaching and his influence on their academic motivation. Students also find his study guide "How to Survive the 'Fundamentals of Chemistry' Course" extremely useful, describing learning methods. As a colleague, Toomas is always willing to share his experience both in teaching and in organizing educational activities. His methods have often surprised colleagues with their effectiveness and organization. Toomas Tamm is receiving the Faculty's Best Lecturer award for the second time.

Harli Moosaar, a senior lecturer at the Estonian Maritime Academy, has been teaching key courses in ship mechanics at the Academy since 2010. Harli has been an active participant in the development activities of the Estonian Maritime Academy, including the establishment of a new simulator center and new teaching laboratories. He is highly valued and respected by both students and colleagues;; he is extremely conscientious and demanding in his work, yet he is also helpful, considerate, and always willing to explain complex topics. His practical maritime experience and excellent professional knowledge are gladly shared with students. Harli Moosaar, along with other authors, has also published several textbooks in his field.

Pavlo Illashenko, a lecturer at the Institute of Economic Analysis and Finance, has consistently received very high ratings from students during his seven years of teaching, reflecting his strong dedication and top-level teaching. Pavlo's teaching philosophy skillfully combines two approaches: ensuring that no student falls behind by offering support to those struggling, while also keeping the content of the courses at the highest level of complexity and relevance. His courses have also attracted foreign students, including those from the EuroTeQi consortium. Pavlo focuses on practical learning, encouraging students to work with real-world data and use programming tools like Python and R, while also introducing them to new AI technologies and teaching them to apply them critically and ethically. Drawing on his 18 years of experience in financial markets, Pavlo connects the academic curriculum with real-world applications, providing students with essential knowledge for applying what they have learned. He is also a sought-after thesis supervisor and has mentored 56 undergraduate and 8 master's theses over the years.

Aive Pevkur, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Business Administration, is highly regarded for her enthusiasm, knowledge, and engaging lectures. She has the ability to present topics in an interesting way, actively involving students in discussions and encouraging them to share their thoughts. She knows how to ask thought-provoking questions that make students think deeply and provide real-life examples to help them better understand the topics. Students also highly appreciate Aive's energy and communication skills; she is always ready to lead discussions, encourage students, and listen to their opinions. A large part of the positive feedback for her successful teaching comes from her ability to make her lectures dynamic and engaging, avoiding monologues and creating an atmosphere where everyone can participate. “Extremely interesting lectures, where I wanted to be involved at all costs, because during the seminar we could also speak up and debate a bit,” one feedback states. Aive successfully combines teaching and research, integrating research results into her teaching. She is committed to continuous development and has written larger-scale research project proposals to find new opportunities. Under Aive's leadership, students have participated in the international Ethic Bowl competition. Aive is not afraid of change; she is willing to learn, test technical solutions, speak out on broader societal issues, and acquire new knowledge through international conferences and visits.

Julius Juurmaa, a guest lecturer at the Institute of Health Technologies, is known for spending half of the day with his students, using only himself, a whiteboard, and a marker. Sometimes, Julius takes students along to his “real” work in a hospital, putting on a lab coat and showing them real life and equipment. He is the head of the Radiology Center at East Tallinn Central Hospital. Julius also takes students to the hospital for internships, supervises theses, participates in the program committee's work, and does all of this with great joy and warmth. 

Andres Rähni, a lecturer at the Institute of Computer Systems, has a very long career and is consistently highly rated by students. He is wholly dedicated to his work, being a fanatic in his field and a specialist with vast practical experience. Andres has been an active thesis supervisor for both bachelor's and master's students for years. He is always helpful and available for students. In addition to teaching various automation-related courses in both the IT and engineering faculties, Andres actively supports interdisciplinary learning. In addition to his teaching duties, Andres has been the tireless leader of the "Automation Day," an annual gathering of graduates from the automation field with over 50 years of tradition.

Sven Nõmm, an associate professor of software science at the Institute of Software Science, teaches master's level courses that focus on mathematical tools and the internal view of technologies, rather than just their usage. This approach allows developers to adapt and advance the core AI technologies to their needs. Students find Sven’s courses technically difficult, but those who complete them successfully find the knowledge and experience valuable. The excellent feedback from students testifies to the lecturer’s dedication and skillful delivery of lessons. When developing his courses, Sven takes student feedback into account and strives to design them in a way that makes learning easier for students. In 2024, three master’s students and five bachelor's students defended their theses under Sven’s (co-)supervision. He actively participates in the Master's program committee and the thesis defense commission, contributing to the development and quality of the curriculum.

The best lecturers are selected from those who, based on student feedback through the study information system, were among the top 30% of the highest-rated lecturers in the faculty during the previous academic year.

The program directors of the year were Peeter Ellervee, Kristo Karjust, and Mare Roosileht

Peeter Ellervee, head of the Computer Systems Education Center and program director of the "Hardware Development and Programming" and "Embedded Systems" curricula, began his career at our university in 1984 after graduating with a degree in computer engineering. Having held various positions throughout his academic career, he became a professor in 2004. He draws valuable input from his broad international network of collaborators. For years, he has been highly rated by students. Peeter’s strength lies in his direct and open communication with all students of the curriculum; he is one of the most active proponents of the individual learning path concept in the Faculty of IT. He listens carefully to ideas and input from both lecturers and external stakeholders, synthesizing them into a cohesive whole and implementing them through the curriculum.

Kristo Karjust, full professor at the Department of Mechanics and Industrial Engineering and program director of the master's program in "Industrial Engineering and Management," has achieved high satisfaction and leadership in graduation success due to his consistent and long-term work in curriculum development. Behind these excellent results is his daily personal communication with students and constant feedback exchange. According to students, Kristo brings his long-term experience from business and production management to students, shares in-depth knowledge, highlights key aspects, and gives practical advice. His ability to link the curriculum with real life has helped many students develop critical thinking and acquire knowledge that will be valuable in their future professional careers.

Mare Roosileht, director of the Virumaa College and program director of the master's program in "Green Energy Technologies," has been a long-standing cornerstone of Tallinn University of Technology, but began her contribution to program management only in 2022. This immediately stood out to both colleagues and students. Mare also makes a significant contribution to graduation success, supervising theses and teaching several courses each semester. The feedback from students for Mare is overwhelmingly positive and reflects her excellent work as both a lecturer and program director: “An interesting subject, completely different from regular lectures. It was well structured, forced independent work on an ongoing basis, and I really liked the continuous feedback and suggestions”; “Mare's positivity is very motivating and inspiring :)”; “She was very caring and motivating. If I had questions, she responded very quickly.”

The Program Director of the Year competition is held across faculties, and a total of three program directors are recognized for their strong dedication to developing educational programs that meet both the university's and society's expectations and needs.