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  • At least 5 reasons to spend the evening of November 28 in the university hall!

    The SUHE baar has been closed and you no longer know where to spend your Friday nights? For at least one dark November evening, we have a solution for you – a lively, dance-filled and magical ball right here in the university hall on November 28 starting at 19! "BuT iT’s CaLLed tHe ALumNi BaLL" – but YOU will (hopefully!) also soon be an alumnus, and what would be a better way to connect current and future alumni than with a lively party!? Therefore, here are at least 5 reasons to spend the evening of November 28 in the university hall! | Photo: Rene Riisalu. 1. You can distract yourself from the fact that the semester ends in three weeks! Exactly – the ball marks the end of the 13th study week, which means you still have three more weeks afterwards to finally do those first-week homework assignments. A solution for your academic delulu (tnx seb campaign). 2. The ball tickets are cheaper than chocolate! The mental health month is over and chocolate is too expensive to eat your stress away? At the ball you get more than five hours of entertainment, relaxation and taking your mind elsewhere for less than the cost of two Kalev chocolates. PS! If you come with friends, you can get a special student package for four at an especially good price! Plus a welcome drink and cake too! 3. You can finally wear that dress or suit that has been sitting in your closet! Nothing is too much for a ball – wear your most glamorous dress or transform into a character from the Enchanted Forest. If you discover that you have a formal dress or suit in your closet that you no longer wear, or you are currently looking for a new formal outfit, then come to TalTech Riidering, where there will be a cool ball pop-up corner this time! More info about Riidering: https://fb.me/e/59plid4L5 4. You get to listen to the favorite songs of the former and current rectors at the disco closing the evening! In addition to Alika, cultural collectives and surprises, this year the program will include the rectors’ disco for the first time! When else will you have the chance to jam with your friends to the favorite songs of Jaak Aaviksoo or Tiit Land? The ball ends with the rectors’ disco, where the songs selected by the former and current rectors will be played. 5. If you made it this far, we’ll give you a discount code to participate! Attention is a valuable thing and if you have read everything above and are still here, then with the code "BLOGI_BALL" you can get the ticket at a discount until November 9! The discount code applies to the “STUDENT” ticket type. Bring your friends and get ready for an amazing event! You can find tickets here: https://fienta.com/et/vilistlaste-ball-2025 ! Still not convinced? Want to hear a student experience? No problem! A student who attended last year described the ball like this: “We went to the ball with friends last year because it seemed like a good opportunity to step out of the usual student routine for a moment and dress up. The fun theme, good performers and friends made the evening especially enjoyable. It was also nice that both students and alumni were together at the ball, creating a connecting and inspiring atmosphere.” So – get ready and see you on November 28th in the university hall! PS! If you are afraid that you don’t remember the dance steps anymore or have actually never danced ballroom dances at all, I have solutions for that too – come to the ball dance courses on November 18th and 20th! The dancers of the dance ensemble Kuljus will teach you the steps, completely free of charge! Registration is required to participate: https://fienta.com/et/balli-tantsukursused

  • From Science to Business: Estonian Youth Building the Deep Tech Community

    These days, being a scientist isn’t just about working in a lab — the world needs people who can take bold ideas and turn them into real impact. In Estonia, there’s a growing demand for deep tech: innovation born from science that has the potential to reshape our economy and society. Great ideas alone aren’t enough; you also need the skills to bring them to life. That’s where the MIMIR Fellows program comes in. Launched by Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Tartu, MIMIR Fellows helps students learn how to bridge science and entrepreneurship through hands-on training. Experts provide coaching on venture capital and technology transfer, while participants discover how to turn cutting-edge research into world-changing companies with global impact. Picture: Olavi Pilnik Why Does This Matter for Estonia? Estonia is known as a digital nation and a great place for startups, but the deep tech field is only beginning to grow. Deep tech ecosystems require longer timelines, more risk-tolerant investors, stronger ties with research institutions, and deeper expertise. The potential exists in Estonia, but science and business aren’t yet fully connected. Many young researchers lack the knowledge or experience to bring their research into the entrepreneurial world. At the same time, investors are often cautious of science-based ideas — they can feel hard to grasp when scientists haven’t yet learned how to “translate” them into the language of business. MIMIR is building a bridge between science and entrepreneurship. The program connects researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors, while teaching participants how to recognize the social and economic potential hidden within scientific discoveries. Graduates of the MIMIR Fellows program learn to ask: Who can benefit from this knowledge? How can it be brought to life? What kind of impact could it have? These are the kinds of people who create new companies and lasting change. What Does the Program Look Like? The first part of the program — independent prep work followed by a two-week intensive bootcamp in Tartu and Tallinn — has wrapped up. “Before, I saw science and entrepreneurship as two separate tracks. Now I realize they’re part of the same journey,” shares one participant. Picture: Olavi Pilnik The young participants have now entered the second phase of the program: internships in companies or research labs, where they can put their new knowledge into practice and gain real-world experience. This fall, the Estonian MIMIR Fellows are planning a study trip to Barcelona, which will also mark the final part of the program. The goal of the trip is to visit leading innovation hubs, meet with local startups and research institutions, and take part in major international events like the Smart City World Expo and the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit. By exploring Barcelona’s ecosystem, they’ll gather new insights and bring that knowledge back to Estonia.

  • The Estonian Student Awards 2025

    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!

  • New TalTech student organizations

    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 !

  • Building the next generation of Estonian startup success stories: Startup Garage!

    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

  • The results of the Student Parliament Elections 2024

    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.

  • Elections of the Student Parliament 2024

    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.

  • DIGITAL WASTE

    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

  • PANEL DISCUSSION: "What can be done at the university to support students' mental health?"

    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.

  • Is feedback a tedious obligation or a student's right?

    ...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.

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