2022
Amendments to Study Allowances and Study Loans Act and the Higher Education Act establish a framework for the reform of doctoral studies
The reorganisation of doctoral studies is necessary in order to ensure the next generation of researchers both in the academic sector and in society as a whole. Doctoral studies are redesigned in such a way that most doctoral students are guaranteed the position of junior researcher at a university or research and development institution or an employment contract concluded in an institution outside the university in a field related to their doctoral thesis.
A doctoral degree completed in cooperation with partners outside the university is called a transfer of knowledge doctoral degree. In such a case, the doctoral research is conducted with the needs of the company or the institution in mind, and the doctoral student will continue working in the partner company or institution. The main goal of a transfer of knowledge doctoral degree is to prepare PhD specialists for the job market outside academia and promote cooperation between universities and private companies. The employment contract relationship enables clear fixation and remuneration of the duties related to doctoral studies in order to make doctoral studies more effective. It also ensures social guarantees for PhD students, such as annual paid leave and the possibility of receiving sickness benefits.
The possibility that the PhD student does not enter into an employment contract for carrying out research, completes their studies in addition to other main work and does so without the right to receive the doctoral allowance that has been in force so far will be preserved. With the same amendment to the Act, the terms and conditions of student loans will be made more favourable for students. The loan agency and the applicant can agree on an interest rate no greater than six months Euribor plus 3% a year. The maximum annual interest rate is 5%. Subject to agreement with the loan agency, it is possible to start repaying the loan 18 months after finishing studies. Currently, it should be done 12 months after finishing studies. Instead of two guarantors, one guarantor is now sufficient.
The terms and conditions for needs-based support were also changed. Those arriving to study from third countries on a temporary residence permit will no longer be eligible to apply for funding.
The reform of doctoral studies has been prepared since 2019, involving universities, research and development institutions, entrepreneurs, students, other ministries and other partners. The amendments will enter into force on 1 August 2022, and the transition to the new concept of doctoral studies will take place gradually until 2026.
2021
Estonia joined the UNESCO Global Agreement on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education
Estonia actively participates in EU and international co-operation in the field of higher education, one of the priorities of which is to promote the mutual recognition of qualifications. The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education facilitates the recognition of higher education qualifications, academic mobility and international cooperation in education and research.
The need for mutual recognition of higher education qualifications has been driven by increasing mobility between regions of the world. Both European learning mobility and Estonia's attractiveness as a study destination for students from outside Europe have increased. The share of foreign students matriculated in Estonian higher education institutions has more than doubled since 2014 (11.6% in 2020). Accession to the convention gives international students the confidence that when returning home or settling in another country, the academic degree obtained in Estonia will be recognized for further study, research and work.
At the national level, Estonia has been working on improving the system of assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications for more than 20 years. Estonian legislation allows the recognition of foreign qualifications on the basis of the same criteria as in other countries.
By the autumn of 2021, seven countries have ratified the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education – Norway, Great Britain, France, Romania, Estonia, Tunisia and Nicaragua. Australia, Lithuania and the Holy See are in the process of completing the ratification process.
Baltic and Benelux countries concluded an agreement on the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications
To promote co-operation and mobility, the Baltic and Benelux countries have signed a six-party agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications. This bi-regional agreement is unique in the field of higher education in Europe, facilitating and speeding up the recognition of higher education degrees. Automatic recognition facilitates access to master's and doctoral studies in the Netherlands and Belgium, which are the main destination countries for those studying in Estonia in the Baltic and Benelux countries.
Close co-operation between the Academic Recognition Information Centers or ENIC / NARIC centres in both regions was required to achieve automatic recognition. In all six countries, higher education reforms, including quality assurance and transparency in the assessment and recognition of qualifications were analysed. The analysis confirmed that the higher education systems of the Baltic and Benelux countries are in line with the principles of the European Higher Education Area, that the systems are comparable and without any significant differences. Signing the agreement is proof of the quality and reliability of the countries´ higher education systems.
Other countries in the European Higher Education Area will be able to join the agreement if they have ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, they have a sound quality assurance system and their degrees and diplomas are linked to the European Qualifications Framework.
2020
The new system adds efficiency and flexibility to PhD studies
In order to facilitate connections between PhD students' everyday work and the preparation of doctoral theses and thereby increase the efficiency of doctoral studies, a change in the system of PhD studies has been initiated.
According to the proposed changes, PhD students can follow three paths in the future, which differ in terms of the PhD student's status, conditions of study, and funding:
- junior researcher - PhD student at a university: the university pays the junior researcher a salary for the research. The workload at the university must be at least 50% or 20 hours per week. In addition, the doctoral student take up employment elsewhere;
- industrial doctorate, which in turn can take two forms:
- the PhD student works in a company or institution, but the studies and supervision are organized by the university. The doctoral thesis is related to the main activities of the company / institution. Doctoral studies make up at least 50% of the workload. State support is granted for industrial doctorate;
- the PhD student works at a university, but his / her studies are not financed by the state, but the financing is agreed between the university and the institution.
- PhD student studies on the basis of an individual plan, without an employment contract of a junior researcher. He or she maintains student status and does not receive a salary or a scholarship from the state. Studies should not exceed twice the nominal time, i.e. 8 years.
2019
The Higher Education Code adds flexibility for students, motivates young people to choose a career in academia and strengthens the links between universities and society
In 2019, work was completed on the Higher Education Code, which simplified and streamlined the regulations of higher education and gave priority to the student, his or her rights and obligations. The adopted Higher Education Act and universities´ acts will increase flexibility for both students and higher education institutions, promote cooperation between higher education institutions, strengthen the links between universities and society, and enable the development of an attractive career model for academic staff.
In order to build closer links between higher education institutions and society, non-university members are involved in the governance of universities. From 2020, non-university members will have a larger share in university councils, which primarily decide on issues related to strategic and financial planning. Each public university now has its own law, which describes the mission, governance model and specificities compared to other universities. In addition to the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and Estonian Academy of Arts now have their own law.
For students, it will become more flexible to participate in studies during academic leave and to get recognition for the previous studies and work experience. In the future, professional higher education graduates will get a Bachelor's degree, which sends a clear message that professional higher education and bachelor's studies are at the same level of higher education and their graduates have equal rights in further education and in the labor market. The organisation of Master´s courses becomes more flexible, in order to involve more working people in lifelong learning. In general, the 3 + 2 curriculum system will remain in force, but for students with previous work experience or a Master's degree, there will be one-year Master's degree programmes.
The new laws support the modernisation of career models in higher education, which would motivate young people to choose a career in academia and enable the creation of tenure positions in order to involve top students. Academic staff are no longer classified as lecturers and researchers, and the possibility of a free semester extends to all academic staff who are engaged in teaching.