Students Can Join 'IT Academy' Study Program Next Fall
IT Academy - a new state-funded study program developed by four Estonian universities in partnership with businesses - will commence next school year.
Initiated in 2009, the program will bring curriculum up to par with international standards to boost the nation's competitiveness.
Given a budget of 1.5 million euros from the state for 2012, a committee headed by Sten Tamkivi, general manager of Skype Estonia and board member of the Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications, is devising the activities of the new program and will present its proposal to the Ministry of Education in December.
“The IT industry is bringing more export euros, international fame to Estonia today than ever before. Ensuring the continuance of rapid growth requires more researchers and specialists with an internationally valid standard of education,” said Tamkivi.
“I am happy to see that the idea that IT companies, universities and the state came up with two years ago as a solution to the shortage of brains has been backed by first investments and we can truly begin to support the efforts of universities in the development of their curriculum.”
The project is headed by the Estonian Information Technology Foundation.
Ott Tammik