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The Estonian Student Awards 2025  once again offer the opportunity to nominate and recognize the best students, student organisations, and activists for their achievements and contributions over the past year. This year’s TUNNE Gala will take place on May 30. The event will bring together students, student activists, and representatives of student societies and organizations from all over Estonia. Why is TUNNE important? TUNNE Gala is more than just an awards ceremony. We have created a nationwide event where all universities and student organisations can come together to celebrate student achievements and promote student culture. TUNNE establishes a tradition that unites students and highlights individuals and organizations whose work and dedication inspire us all. This year’s awards categories: Student of the Year – Someone who contributes to the student community and serves as an inspiration. Student Organisation of the Year – A group that has made an impact and stood out for its activities. Student Act of the Year  – Did students really pull this off? Cultural Contributor of the Year – Keeps culture alive and creates traditions that will be followed in universities for years to come. Student Sports Contributor  of the Year – Elevates university or nationwide student sports to new heights. Education Quality Contributor  of the Year – Improves the learning environment and enhances education quality. Student Friend of the Year – The ultimate supporter of student life, a true friend to students. Social Contribution of the Year – Leaves a lasting mark beyond the university. Newcomer of the Year  – New to TUNNE, but we can’t nominate ourselves… Open Category – Don’t fit into any category? You’re special, and that deserves recognition too! How to nominate? Do you know someone who deserves recognition? Maybe you are part of an organization that has done something extraordinary? Now is your chance to nominate! Nominations are open until February 23 . Fill out the nomination form and help highlight those who are making Estonian student life better. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the TUNNE Gala! Nominate now and join us on May 30 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Estonian students.  Tickets will be available after the nominations close. TUNNE – a celebration of our brightest young talents! See you at the TUNNE Gala!

The new academic year has begun with fresh opportunities and exciting new student organizations joining our student life. While the previous year ended with a total of 40 organizations, including the student union, this year we have removed two inactive organizations from our list. In their place, two new and ambitious organizations have joined, bringing with them big goals and the potential to offer students even more opportunities. In this article, you'll get to know these new initiatives more closely. If they spark your interest, don't hesitate to reach out and become a part of shaping and developing these organizations! Start-up Garage Want to learn more about the startup world, be part of a successful startup, and join the amazingly ambitious people in the ecosystem? Startup Garage is here to engage you in a brand new student-led initiative to create the next generation of Estonian success stories! We gather together a network of young talented individuals who want to make a difference and create actual impact to the world. Be it through organizing one of our events or programs, or starting your own venture as a startupper - there are many ways to leave your footprint on the world!  But what do we do? We organize weekly events that promote entrepreneurship and help to grow the startup ecosystem amongst the youth. For example, we just hosted the Youth Startup Summit with over 300 attendees and speakers like Martin Villig, Martin Sokk and Kaidi Ruusalepp stepping on the stage to talk about their startup journey to inspire us. We are planning to organize a pre-incubation program to go from your idea to business in the spring and aiming to go on study-trips abroad to learn about ecosystems across the world!  Join us already on Nov 22nd for our next event - Empower Your Future: LinkedIn workshop and Mektory Week , starting from the 6th of December , more info soon on our socials. If you want to contribute to our mission and be part of the next impactful thing, visit our Instagram @ startupgarage.ee or LinkedIn and apply to become a member here .  Games Club Games Club is a brand new student organization that connects ALL students interested in games. The club started from a feeling that TalTech is lacking a place to regularly play different games and study. The first Games Night was organized in June 2024 and since then our club's operations have expanded. Our club already has 67 members at the time of writing and the list keeps getting longer. We offer the possibility to partake in different games every Tuesday, ranging from Catan to Mario Kart and Minecradft. Our games collection is big and keeps getting bigger, come take a look! No prior experience is required for participation, we always have people who can teach and assist you in every way possible. We also organize regular tournaments and events, often collaborating with other organizations. You can find us on Instagram @taltechmanguklubi and on Facebook Mänguklubi . See you on Tuesdays at 18:00 in Mektory InnovationHUB !

Have you heard of Startup Garage yet? No? Let us introduce you to one of the most entrepreneurial and active-minded groups of young people in TalTech and Estonia. We are building a network of young individuals to boost the next generation of Estonian startup success stories by creating community events and bridging the gap between ideas to real products with focused programs. Our vision is to help the Estonian ecosystem be systemic and competitive by introducing students as key players in the startup scene, leading the way in accelerating growth opportunities. This is a chance to educate, provide opportunities to grow ideas, foster skills and find useful connections across Europe and beyond. But enough of the big talk, what exactly are we doing? Coming up next semester, we are organising a pre-incubation program to help you get from an idea to an actual prototype and business model. Furthermore, we plan to bring the most talented and forward-thinking TalTechers to study trips that are actually creating an impact, making connections across Europe, and putting learnings into practice back home, in Estonia. We still are a student organisation and as one knows, that can’t go without fun team events and a great vibe!  Now let's hear it from others! Such as our wonderful CEO Rasmus Kalep : “I think what we are building here is something greater than what we are used to seeing as a student organisation in TalTech. We are really building this organisation as an evolving startup which has a clear vision and problem we are solving - it being the lack of network and access to experience in the startup world for young people. We want to create actual impact with our network, projects and programs, whether it be for the participants or our own members, who benefit from seeing the kitchen side of a startup support organisation. And all of that leads to the creation of the next generation of startups in Estonia with knowledgeable leaders with a global network, leading the charge. And we cannot do that without active members who are able to act fast and are open to change”. Startup Garage member, Lucía Notario shares her experience so far: “I am so excited to be a part of Startup Garage! I’ve been here for almost four weeks, and it has been incredible; I’ve learned so much about what a student organisation can really do. From day one, I’ve felt surrounded by a vibrant and energetic environment where innovation and collaboration are the norm. The networking opportunities and entrepreneurship programs are just amazing. I had no idea such valuable resources existed for young entrepreneurs. I’m sure this experience is not only helping me grow professionally but also preparing me to make a real difference in the global startup ecosystem. I can’t wait to see what comes next!” We are hoping to inspire YOU to take the lead and make actual impact in the world. Our community is one way of contributing to a collaborative and entrepreneurial future which does have that impact. Make sure to check out our channels and become a member here: https://linktr.ee/startupgarage.ee?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabzxhjhq1A7rTsMo-S8Sk-yRjA6Ud-c9h3zZnPnGgk8Evk3CB1FbAKvBiw_aem_bEfKBQXnI9BzEnfamrpEiw Don’t have the time to organise events but want to take part? Join our community chat:  https://tr.ee/Bho5XsFobA Lets keep in touch!  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupgarage.ee/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105075905/admin/dashboard/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupGarage/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@startupgarage.ee?_t=8qq8j4qrpbv&_r=1

From March 4th to March 20th, 2024, this year's Student Parliament elections took place. TalTech Student Parliament is the highest decision-making body representing students, and has the right to adopt TalTech students views and decisions. Representatives of all Schools of TalTech are represented in the Student Parliament. The Student Parliament stands for the interests of TalTech students, elects representatives to the decision-making bodies of the university, elects the board of the Student union, directs projects that improve students learning and activities, etc. The Student Parliament meets regularly once a month. In addition, each member of the Student Parliament chooses one of the two committees to work with: the Academic Committee and the Student Life Committee. All TalTech students had the opportunity to apply from February 5 to 15. There were a total of 25 candidates across the five faculties: 4 in the School of Engineering, 4 in Estonian Maritime Academy, 5 in the School of Science, 7 in the School of IT and 5 in the School of Business and Governance. One of the candidates from the School of Economics, Mark Toomsalu, gave up her place in the Student Parliament because she was elected as a member of the board of the student body in the field of student life. There are 15 members in the Student Parliament, and the mandates were distributed among the faculties as follows: four mandates each for the School of Engineering and IT, three mandates for the School of Business and Governance, and two mandates each for the School of Science and the Estonian Maritime Academy. The elections were held in the Student Portal. The elections were very successful in terms of voter turnout: this year’s voter turnout of 12% is the highest it's been for the last five years. The new membership was announced on March 25, at the Student Parliament’s thank-you event. Members of the Student Parliament 2024/2025: Faculty of Engineering: Leana Jete Korb Ken-Erik Kirspuu Maarja-Liis Engel Maksim Dolinin Faculty of Information Technology: Annemari Riisimäe Vira Lavrova Martin Noot Sirely Veri Faculty of Economics: Helena Vello Emilia Jablokova Andres Rea Estonian Maritime Academy: Katherin Reet Sisask Elizabeth Šanin Faculty of Science: Karoline Lindpere Kristian Pärt On April 6th-7th, there will be an outing for the new members to get to know each other and learn about the parliament work. The first meeting of the parliament will take place on April 9th at 18:00 in room U01-227/228.

Tallinn University of Technology Student Parliament is the highest decision-making body of students, elected at annual elections and composed of representatives of all schools. Candidates who receive the highest number of votes according to the schools' mandates will become members of the Student Parliament. Student Parliament meets regularly once a month. In addition, each member of the representative body selects a committee of their choice to participate in: the academic committee or the student life committee. The application period for the Student Parliament 2024/2025 membership is from February 5 to February 15. More information about the application process: https://taltech.ee/en/student-union/student-parliament If you're not sure whether you'd like to run for the Student Parliament, here are some thoughts from your representative. DANIEL AASORG (School of Business and Governance) Why did you choose to run for the Student Parliament? It seemed like an interesting opportunity to become more involved in student life while simultaneously representing my faculty. Why should someone from your school consider running for the Student Parliament? In my school, someone should consider running for the Student Parliament because it provides a great understanding of how the university as a whole operates, and, of course, it offers the opportunity to represent our school at a higher level. What has being a part of the Student Parliament given you? Being part of the Student Parliament has given me a better understanding of how things work at the university and how various issues are addressed and resolved. RAGNAR KRAMM (School of Information Technologies) Why did you choose to run for the Student Parliament? I ran for the Student Parliament because I felt it was my last chance to contribute to university affairs, as the final semester was about to begin. Another reason was the low participation of IT students in candidacy. I couldn't let my faculty be underrepresented. Why should someone from your school consider running for the Student Parliament? Students from the school of IT should run for the Student Parliament because it's a great opportunity to get involved and gain an overview of important matters related to student life and the university in general. The school of IT is one of the largest schools at TalTech and needs proactive representatives! What has being a part of the Student Parliament given you? Being in the Student Parliament has provided a thorough understanding of TalTech's operational model, an excellent opportunity to connect with people from other schools, and a great chance to practice presentation skills and clear self-expression with fellow representatives. ANNA JÜRISSAAR (School of Science) Why did you choose to run for the Student Parliament? I wanted to be involved in making significant decisions related to student life and gain experience in being part of a decision-making body. Why should someone from your school consider running for the Student Parliament? The School of Science is small, making it particularly important to have students in the Student Parliament, who are willing to stand up for our school and express their opinions. Advocating for fellow students is a significant responsibility, but also a fantastic opportunity to create a better and more diverse learning environment for classmates. What has being a part of the Student Parliament given you? As we mostly analyze official documents, my analytical skills and functional reading ability have improved. I have gained a much better understanding of how the university operates, and my horizons have expanded. The representative body also provides opportunities for new connections, and collaborating with active students has been enjoyable and rewarding. Being in the Student Parliament is definitely more exciting when you dare to actively participate and explore more. Additionally, I liked the feeling of importance when representing my school. HELENE ARMILDE KUDRE (Estonian Maritime Academy) Why did you choose to run for the Student Parliament? I ran for the Student Parliament to represent Maritime Academy students and gain a broader understanding of the university's operations, being part of the student union and the work of the Student Parliament. Why should someone from your school consider running for the Student Parliament? Students from the Maritime Academy should consider running for the Student Parliament to stay directly informed about the main campus and the activities, plans, and goals of other faculties. It is an opportunity to be part of decision-making processes that affect all TalTech students, including those from the Maritime Academy. What has being a part of the Student Parliament given you? Being in the Student Parliament has primarily provided me with an understanding and knowledge of how our university's structure functions. Additionally, it has offered new insights and directions that are helpful for internal development work within my school. ANET MARII PAUMETS (School of Engineering) Why did you choose to run for the Student Parliament? I ran for the Student Parliament on a friend's recommendation. It seemed like a great opportunity to have a say in TalTech student life. Why should someone from your school consider running for the Student Parliament? Anyone considering candidacy should definitely go for it. You get to stand up for your school and contribute to discussions on various topics. The more diverse the people in the Student Parliament, the better the representation of students. What has being a part of the Student Parliament given you? Throughout this year, I have learned a lot, especially about how things work at TalTech. It has made me think differently about things and helps me see the bigger picture.

January 26th is a digital clean-up day, in which Tallinn University of Technology also participates. Imagine all the emails, photos, videos, messages, posts, and memes you've sent, saved, or shared online. Pictures that you keep on your phone or in the cloud but don't use. Or two-year-old emails or spam that there's no reason to look at. All of this quietly contributes to the atmosphere's CO2 emissions. The use of people's smart devices and the internet accounts for a whopping 3.7 percent of the world's total CO2 emissions! According to scientists, online communication could globally consume nearly 20 percent of the world's electricity by 2025. Did you know that: 11.1 tons of CO2 is the average Estonian's annual carbon footprint. 570,000,000 trees are needed to make Estonia carbon-positive. The carbon footprint of 1000 emails in your inbox is equivalent to driving from Tallinn to Rapla by car. Why bother deleting digital clutter? Benefits for the climate and your wallet - before acquiring more data volume, free up the excess. By clearing cloud and disk space, you save money and energy. Security - careless storage of data can be a security risk for you. Less confusion and noise - finding and sharing information becomes easier. Use it longer - you can use devices for a longer time, and the memory capacity won't fill up as quickly. By the beginning of the week, nearly 1500 gigabytes of data deletion had been registered on Telia's 2024 Digital Cleanup Day website. This is equivalent to about half a million photos or the data size of one and a half thousand full-length movies, but the cleanup effort is still gaining momentum. Contribute for the sake of the environment and yourself! WHERE TO START? Delete apps you don't really use. Ditch the newsletters you don't actually read. Empty the recycle bins and downloads folders of your devices and environments. Delete files you don't really need from the email server and cloud banks. Start with the biggest ones. Abandon video transmission if sound is sufficient. Drop the video in HD or 4K quality if standard quality is enough. If you know what you're looking for, go straight to the right page instead of searching the web. Organize photo albums both on your device and in the cloud where they are backed up - delete duplicate photos and pointless pics and keep only the ones you really want to see again. Think about what your social media post gives to the world. If you can't figure it out, don't post. If the image or file is available online, don't email it, just link to it. If not and you need to send it to several people, upload it yourself and link to it. Block spammers. Redirecting them to a separate folder is still a resource for your devices and email servers! Do all this regularly, not just on digital cleaning day. How does the last Friday of every month sound? In addition to digital cleaning: Shut down your computer when you are away for at least two hours. Use your devices as long as possible. Look for a repair before buying a new one. Take old electronics to the waste station, not the household waste bin. Record your cleaned-up items here, and the IT department will inform you about the extent of digital clutter we've cleared. The form is open until 02.02.2024, after which we can make summaries and compare the contributions of employees and students. More information: Digital cleanup day in TalTech Telia digikoristuspäev Let's do it! digital cleanup

In October, Tallinn University of Technology hosted Mental Health Month. There were activities for everyone, from therapy dogs to workshops, yoga mornings to informational sessions. Three major events took place during the month: a mental health information day, a lifestyle conference called "The Power of Habits," and a panel discussion on students' mental health in university. Participants had the chance to grab Peaasi workbooks, Kadarbiku carrot juice, encouraging stickers, or smoothies. On October 19th, a panel discussion took place at the Student House titled "What can be done at the university to support students' mental health?". The panel included Karoliina Rebane, a member of the student council leadership in the field of education, Kadri Kiiskmann, a psychologist from the counseling center, Ago Luberg, the program director of the computer science curriculum, and Birgit Malken, the advocate for youth mental health from the Estonian Youth Mental Health Movement. They discussed the current support network at Tallinn University of Technology, the extent to which the mental health of students is the university's responsibility, and what changes can be implemented on this topic in the university. The conversation also touched on maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. The consensus was that students' mental health is a shared responsibility, and the university plays a crucial role in creating a supportive environment. Well-being is supported by both sports and leisure opportunities and involvement in student organizations. While student activism and sports opportunities are already at a high level, there's room to improve the learning environment and create more open spaces for group work or collaborative studying. Faculty members can contribute to students' mental health by fostering supportive attitudes and involving students in the learning process. Effective methods often support the learning process and reduce mental fatigue, overload, and stress. Involvement through asking questions, initiating discussions, and engaging in dialogue with students is an excellent example of efficient learning where performance pressure is lower when active thinking and contribution to the learning process are actively acknowledged. The mental health survey conducted at TalTech in spring 2023 revealed that many students believe that a well-organized study schedule at the beginning of the course would positively impact their mental health. Confusing course arrangements or unclear deadlines for assignments are common negative comments in feedback, indicating that clear guidelines and specific deadlines at the beginning of the semester help reduce study-related stress. Birgit Malken, who has been involved in creating mental health action plans at the University of Tartu, introduced various formats that have been tried there. The "Mental Health ABC" online course has been very popular, allowing people to listen to lectures at their own pace and place. This format is suitable for addressing sensitive topics, as it allows people to remain anonymous and removes potential barriers that may arise when seeking counseling. Roundtable discussions on learning and school-related stress have also worked well, where students with similar concerns can exchange experiences. Of course, it should be considered that the University of Tartu has a social sciences faculty, which allows for more experimentation with different formats. However, similar methods could still be applied elsewhere. While the university and faculty members have a role in preventive measures for students' mental health, individual responsibility cannot be overlooked. Consistency in taking care of basic needs, such as sufficient sleep, balanced nutrition, and an active lifestyle, forms the foundation. It's also crucial to be there for each other and notice those close to us.

...the right to participate in improving and developing the quality of education, the right to express their opinion about their learning experience, the right to be involved and heard, or ...an obligation that needs to be quickly done so that more important and pressing matters can be tackled. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, but perhaps this article will help you better utilize your right and deal more easily with the imposed obligation. After all, student feedback is crucial for the university - it's the only source of information about the student experience, and students are the ones for whom lectures, seminars, practicals, field trips, and all other parts of the learning process are designed. However, feedback has raised several questions among students. Hopefully, this article will provide answers to some of them and even debunk some myths. Why is feedback collected at the university? Often, it is thought that student feedback is collected because it has to be done. In reality, it's not about obligation but desire. The university staff wants to hear the students' opinions to find ways for instructors to better support, inspire, and encourage students in their learning journey, making the time at the university meaningful and beneficial. Additionally, student feedback is essential to understand whether strategically important innovations in teaching are moving in the right direction and where there is a need for further push (e.g., development of project and problem-based learning highlighted in the development plan, alignment of evidence-based and learner-centered teaching, or improvement of curriculum coherence, etc.). Who sees student feedback in ÕIS? When feedback is received, the entire machinery starts working to calculate averages for academic management, faculties, program managers, instructors, and more. Once the feedback period is over, and ÕIS has finished all calculations, relevant parties can review the results. At TalTech, students can see average scores for courses. Instructors themselves (both averages and comments) can naturally see their results on ÕIS. Program managers can see all responses and comments for courses in their curriculum. Institute directors have access to the results of their institute's instructors, and of course, feedback can be utilized by deans and the academic affairs office staff responsible for monitoring educational quality, making improvement suggestions, and supporting instructors' development. Is giving feedback at TalTech anonymous? This is regulated by the rector's order "Regulation on the Collection and Consideration of Feedback on Educational Activities," according to which the university has an obligation to ensure the anonymity of respondents. The system separates respondent data from responses, and it cannot be traced back later. Feedback giving is anonymous, and responses are used only in generalized form. Of course, there are exceptional situations where only a few students participate in a course, making it relatively easy for the instructor to identify the feedback provider. However, this is definitely not the purpose of analyzing feedback. Feedback should be courteous, honest, and constructive, helping both the instructor in reshaping their course or teaching practices and the student in analyzing their learning experience. What is good and constructive feedback? TalTech has many active students dedicated to improving university life through enhancing educational quality. They have taken on the task of encouraging fellow students to write meaningful, well-thought-out, and useful comments. For this purpose, a set of guidelines for good feedback has been established, stating that good feedback should be: Based on self-analysis: Recognizing one's contribution is crucial when assessing teaching. Instructors can facilitate learning, but the actual learning takes place in the individual's mind. Polite: Criticism, insults, etc., do not help instructors or program managers improve course teaching and curriculum. Justified: "...because...". The points given in the questionnaire are good indicators, but for quality improvement, explanations are the best. Objective: Emotions should be left out of feedback. Sometimes it is useful to wait a bit with giving feedback and analyze one's own actions parallel to the instructor's activities to get to the essence and make meaningful observations and suggestions. Constructive: Instructors and program managers use feedback from students to enhance their work. This can be done if feedback provides opportunities, is based on observations and facts, and is precise (comments written about the chosen instructor's activities, etc.). Praising: Acknowledging an instructor's good work encourages and motivates them to put in even more effort. What is done based on student feedback? Is it even used? Incredible, cool, and useful instructors can serve as an example to others and provide an opportunity to learn how to structure and conduct their course to provide students with the best learning experience while being motivated and happy. Regarding instructors with modest feedback and comments highlighting weaknesses, the university offers various opportunities to update and develop their knowledge and skills. Various parties review all aspects brought out in feedback that caused low feedback (e.g., course structure, organization, curriculum relevance, materials, methodology, instructor's self-expression and presentation skills, e-support usage, feedback provision, and assessment), and plans are made accordingly to change or do differently. Sometimes this also means collecting additional feedback. Why don't students see changes when feedback is read and used? Often there is no quick and good solution to address arising problems, but for the purpose of improving educational quality, TalTech focuses on supporting instructors' personal development, which is preferably done by highlighting good examples and positive experiences. The culture of learning and teaching does not change overnight, but I assure you, progress is being made. For example, the recently approved Code of Good Practice in Learning and Teaching: https://taltech.ee/uudised/oppimise-ja-opetamise-hea-tava. Feedback is one part of the dialogue between students and instructors. One should not hesitate to ask instructors what previous students have suggested, noticed, and what instructors have decided to change or develop. Not all suggestions can be implemented or even reasonably applied, and one should trust the instructor, who is a specialist in their field and knows what students might need in the job market, for example. It is important to cultivate a learning culture that values feedback and strengthen the partnership between students and instructors. In the higher education landscape, the term "forward-looking feedback" has also become common, indicating a focus not so much on what was wrong and disliked but rather on what to do in the future. Can students participate in the creation of feedback questionnaires? Any feedback on the feedback collection process from students is always welcome. The ÕIS questionnaire is not set in stone, and good suggestions are always listened to. Representatives of various interest groups were involved in creating the current questionnaire, including program managers, academic deans, and students. However, there is a well-known saying that tastes differ, and even in the creation of feedback questionnaires, it was concluded that differences in preferences cannot be objectively resolved. A middle ground must be found, and changes must be approached step by step. The academic affairs office is working on a plan to modify the feedback (perhaps already called forward-looking feedback 😊) form and procedure to encourage students to analyze their learning more and direct instructors' attention more towards supporting learning.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, offers a charming winter experience with its historic old town, festive markets, and numerous seasonal activities. If you're an expat or an Erasmus student on a budget, here's a must-try winter bucket list for your time in Tallinn. These activities offer a mix of outdoor and indoor experiences, allowing you to enjoy the winter wonderland of Tallinn while staying within your budget. 1. Visit Christmas Markets (Jõuluturg): The Christmas markets in Tallinn are famous for their charming and historic setting. The most renowned market is located in the heart of Tallinn's Old Town, particularly in the Town Hall Square. This market, known as "Rahva Jõuluturg," is renowned for its authenticity, featuring local handicrafts, traditional Estonian food, and an enchanting atmosphere. It will open its doors on 1st December 2023. When you visit the Christmas markets in Tallinn, make sure to try "glögi," which is a popular Scandinavian mulled wine. It's a warm and aromatic beverage made by heating red wine with various spices like cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel. It's often served with almonds and raisins. Glogi is a staple at the Tallinn Christmas markets and is a delightful way to warm up and immerse yourself in the festive spirit. See the schedule here 2. Try Traditional Estonian Food: Olde Hansa is a restaurant located in the heart of Tallinn's Old Town. It offers a unique dining experience where you can savour traditional Estonian and medieval European dishes. The ambience is designed to transport you back in time, with staff dressed in medieval attire and an interior reminiscent of the Middle Ages. While it's not the cheapest option in town, it's worth it for a special occasion or a taste of history. Kompressor: If you want a budget-friendly option, head to Kompressor. This eatery is famous for its delicious and generously sized pancakes, both sweet and savory. It's a favourite among locals and students alike due to its affordable prices. The casual atmosphere is welcoming, making it a great place to enjoy traditional Estonian cuisine without breaking the bank. Of course! Here are more details for two additional items on the winter bucket list in Tallinn: 3. Ice Skating: Harju Street Park: Harju Street Park, also known as Harju Ice Rink, is one of the popular ice skating spots in Tallinn during the winter season. What makes it even more attractive is that many outdoor ice rinks, like Harju, offer free admission. You may only need to pay a small fee for skate rentals. This makes it an affordable and enjoyable way to experience winter in Tallinn. Tondiraba Ice Hall: If you want an indoor ice skating experience, Tondiraba Ice Hall is a great option. It's the largest ice hall in Estonia and offers public skating sessions. While indoor ice skating typically involves a fee, it's a fantastic way to skate in a controlled environment, ensuring that you can enjoy this activity even when the weather is less cooperative. 4. Visit Kadriorg Park: Kadriorg Palace: Kadriorg Park is a picturesque destination in any season, but it takes on a special charm during the winter. The park is home to Kadriorg Palace, a Baroque gem built by Peter the Great. Even if you don't visit the museum inside, the exterior of the palace and its surrounding gardens are worth exploring. In winter, the park's pathways may be dusted with snow, creating a serene and scenic atmosphere. Kumu Art Museum: While in Kadriorg Park, you can also visit Kumu Art Museum, which is Estonia's largest and most impressive art museum. It houses both classical and contemporary Estonian art collections. It's an excellent place to warm up, immerse yourself in Estonian culture, and appreciate art in a cosy environment. 5. Sauna Experience: Estonian Sauna Culture: Saunas hold a special place in Estonian culture, and experiencing an Estonian sauna is a must. Many hostels and public saunas in Tallinn offer affordable sauna sessions. The tradition involves alternating between hot saunas and cold plunges, which is invigorating and healthy, especially during the colder months. Local Rituals: Sauna sessions are often accompanied by unique Estonian rituals, such as whipping yourself with birch branches (a process known as "vihtlemine") to improve circulation and relax muscles. It's a cultural experience that provides warmth, relaxation, and a deeper connection to local traditions.

Make cheat sheets, but don't use them!" This is a common saying among some professors. The idea behind it is that creating a good cheat sheet requires a lot of work and effort. During this process, you go through the material from start to finish, distinguish important information from unimportant, develop a logical structure, and plan the precise layout. However, the act of going through these steps already helps in learning, and later, you might not even need the cheat sheet. Because making cheat sheets is considered a good learning strategy, using them is simply foolish. For example, in engineering studies, one wouldn't want to live in a house whose structural calculations were done by an engineer who chose to cheat instead of learning. Similarly, no one would want to have surgery performed by a doctor who isn't sure where a certain organ is because they cheated on the anatomy exam. While these examples involve more complex and responsible fields where people's lives are at stake, the responsibility exists in all other fields as well. Chemists should know how different substances react, economists should invest to make a profit instead of a loss. This requires genuinely acquiring knowledge, not copying from others. Although the examples mentioned make sense and are logical, there are also so-called "useless" knowledge. For instance, everyone has had to memorize a poem in language class. Let's be honest, at the moment, no one remembers the authors or titles of those poems. However, the purpose of learning those poems was not to remember them verbatim. Memorizing a poem aims to expand vocabulary, develop memory, create connections, and enhance the ability to deliver necessary information at the right moment. Additionally, reciting a poem from memory improves public speaking skills, pronunciation, and diction. "Statistics show that every year, students' ability to formulate theorems, let alone prove them, decreases," said a mathematics professor recently after grading exams. On one hand, it can be argued that the average student is more self-aware and doesn't memorize things they won't need in life. However, proving theorems should not be memorized; they should be logically derived from the base of previously learned material. But if that base has been neglected, and instead cheating has been done, now there are only two options left: independently learn all the necessary material or continue cheating. It's a snowball effect that keeps growing. Every person has a choice: to grow their knowledge ball bigger and more powerful or play Jenga with poorly built blocks, hoping it won't collapse at the wrong moment. Just like high school, university is actually voluntary. No one forces anyone to go and study. But once the decision has been made, and enrollment confirmed, the obligations taken must be fulfilled, and learning must happen. Perhaps high school was necessary to go to university and study something that doesn't require understanding all the subjects of the national curriculum. But in university, there are different fields, different directions. Just as aspiring conductors don't learn physics, IT specialists are not taught music. This means that all current students have made the decision to come and acquire knowledge in this specific field. So why cheat? University is meant for acquiring knowledge and later applying it. But if a diploma is obtained through dishonest means, it's not surprising that the application of those missing skills will falter. While a degree may help land a desired job, lacking real skills will eventually come to light. Therefore, that paper is worthless, and the entire university time is wasted. The recommendation is, once the decision is made to continue one's education, then one should also study. In addition to doing oneself a disservice by cheating, it is also unacceptable towards others. In the Technical University, there are a certain number of scholarships awarded only to the most diligent students. While extra money is always nice and serves as a good motivator to strive for better grades, raising grades through cheating may deprive someone who didn't cheat of that money. They may not reach the same level as the cheater, who actually lacks those skills. Moreover, instructors tend to determine students' levels based on the first tests and adjust the difficulty of subsequent tasks accordingly, requiring real effort to achieve a high grade. This makes it difficult not only for cheaters but also for honest students, and in the end, everyone is worse off. What's the point of cheating when the grade is achievable without it? In the future, it's also wise to make smart financial decisions and live in a house that doesn't threaten to collapse. This means that current students need to take charge and start using their brain's potential. Today's decisions will affect life for many decades. To become a future top achiever, effort must be put in at this very moment.