Tallinn University of Technology is launching TalTech SPIN, a challenge-based learning programme. Its first student project, NEXUS, will develop and test new drone and robotics solutions with partners. The collaboration involves the non-profit association MTÜ Drooniklubi, the Police and Border Guard Board, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, the Estonian Defence Forces and Milrem Robotics.
NEXUS is a student project that aims to connect academic learning with real-world technological challenges and the knowledge and experience of experts from different fields. The project focuses on developing and testing a robotics system that integrates aerial and ground platforms for educational and research purposes.
According to TalTech’s Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Ingrid Pappel, NEXUS is a good example of what TalTech SPIN aims to bring to the university. “The idea is to give students the opportunity to work on real challenges for which there are no ready-made answers in a textbook. NEXUS brings together students’ knowledge and creativity with external partners’ practical experience, with learning taking place throughout the process, from understanding the problem to developing and testing solutions,” Pappel said.
TalTech students and MTÜ Drooniklubi are the main developers and implementers of the project’s technical solutions. The university provides the academic framework and supports the project’s integration into teaching and learning. The Police and Border Guard Board, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, the Estonian Defence Forces and Milrem Robotics contribute their expertise, mentoring, operational feedback and support in testing the solutions.
One of the aims of the collaboration is to give students the opportunity to develop technical solutions while taking into account real users’ needs, technological constraints and the requirements of different fields. At the same time, partners can bring their practical challenges and expertise to the university.
Alongside NEXUS, TalTech has developed new challenge-based courses that will gradually be integrated into study programmes. While NEXUS is an extracurricular student initiative, the new courses will enable students to address real-world challenges proposed by external partners as part of their studies.
TalTech SPIN is an educational innovation initiative at Tallinn University of Technology that develops challenge-based and interdisciplinary learning. It focuses on bringing real-world challenges and open-ended problems into teaching and learning, with students, teaching staff, companies and public-sector partners working together to solve them.