| Estonian Information Technology College | |
| Native Name: | Eesti Infotehnoloogia Kolledž |
| Established: | 2000 |
| Type: | Private, non-profit |
| Administrative Staff: | 21 (2012)[1] |
| Faculty: | 11 full-time,[2] ~40 part-time (2012; varies by year/term)[3] |
| Rector: | Tiit Roosmaa |
| Students: | ~900 (2012)[4] |
| City: | Tallinn |
| Province: | Harju County |
| Country: | Estonia |
| Mascot: | Tux (informally) |
| Website: | www.itcollege.ee |
The Estonian Information Technology College (EITC) (Estonian: Eesti Infotehnoloogia Kolledž (EIK)) was a private non-profit institution of professional higher education (university of applied sciences) in Estonia, located in Tallinn. EITC provided Estonian applied higher education diploma-level (at least 180 ECTS credit points; equal to the Bachelor's degree under the Bologna process) education in information technology in four main programmes (IT Systems Administration, IT Systems Development, Information Systems Analysis and Technical Communication), carried out shorter-term vocational training programmes as well as various R&D-oriented activities. In 2017 it merged with the Tallinn University of Technology.
The governing body of the IT College, the Estonian Information Technology Foundation, was established in March 2000 by the Republic of Estonia (represented by the Ministry of Education and Research), the University of Tartu, the Tallinn University of Technology, AS Eesti Telekom, and the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications. One of the main forces behind the formation of EITC was the rapidly growing need for IT professionals which could not be met by universities and attracted people with uneven educational and professional background.[5] During the first years, all students had to pay for the tuition (a small number of stipends were available for best students) - however, starting from 2007, 100 places are funded by the state, in a similar manner to state universities.[6] In addition, up to 150 self-financing students are admitted every year.
The college was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Mart Laar in September 2000 and received the Estonian Award of Educational Achievement for that year. The location was in the downtown Tallinn until 2008 when the college moved into a new building in Mustamäe, at the vicinity of Tallinn University of Technology and Tehnopol.[7]
served as the rector of EITC from the beginning to 2010. Linnar Viik held the office in 2011, the current rector Tiit Roosmaa was inaugurated in August 2011.[8]
The college's three-year curriculum totalling at 180 credit points in the European Credit Transfer System produces a specific vocational qualification equal to a bachelor's degree. The college's priority is to train IT specialists, yet graduates may choose to pursue their studies at the master's level either in Estonia or abroad.[9]
The IT Systems Development and IT Systems Administration programmes are available in the daytime study format either in full-time, part-time or external study forms. The Information Systems Analysis and Technical Communication programmes are available in the evening study format in full-time, part-time or external study forms. The evening study format with classes starting at 6 p.m. on business days is targeted at the people who work during the daytime. All four programmes have received full accreditation.[10]
The graduates of the IT Systems Administration programme will have an in-depth knowledge of the structure, indicators and functions of appropriate IT systems (computer and telecommunications networks, Internet, databases etc.). They will be able to administer, expand and retune these systems, as well as contribute to developing new services and applications.[11]
The IT Systems Development programme provides a comprehensive education in the field of software development and IT systems (computer and telecommunications networks, Internet, databases etc.). Graduates will develop thorough knowledge of different programming languages and tools, development environments and teamwork basics necessary for development of modern application software.[12]
The graduates of the Information Systems Analysis programme will have a balanced knowledge of the processes occurring in both IT and business systems. They will be able to participate in devising complex business information systems, applications or services and work as applications integrators, system architects, data systems developers and system analysts.[13]
The Technical Communication programme introduces students not only to the basics of IT but also skills in oral and written self-expression, and knowledge of design, printing technology, etc. Graduates in this subject area will be able to work in positions that require providing users of IT products and services with specific IT terminology and content. Graduates will have the skills of producing user guidelines, product catalogues and technical texts (both as publications and web-based presentations) for selected target groups, and designing advertising / promotional materials.[14]
The language of instruction is Estonian, but some courses are available in English as well.[15]
Completing a three-year programme of 180 credit points students acquire a special qualification that corresponds to the bachelor's degree and is aimed at working in a specific field. The graduates are able to continue their studies at the master's level at Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu University or elsewhere.[9]
Although EITC is not a research-oriented institution, it takes part in a number of applied research and development projects.[16] Via the EITF as the mother institution, it also cooperates with the Estonian e-Learning Development Centre in various national and international development projects and events in e-learning.[17]
EITC offers a wide variety of vocational training courses on a diverse choice of subjects (operating systems, application software, software development, systems administration, data security etc.) on different levels. The college is also a training partner to the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, taking part in retraining programmes for unemployed people.[18]
The tradition of public lectures at EITC is as old as the college itself (the first one took place in 2000.[19]) Over the years, the lecturers have included Richard M. Stallman from the Free Software Foundation,[20] Jon 'Maddog' Hall from Linux International,[21] Mikko Hyppönen[22] and Jarno Niemelä[23] from F-Secure, Akira Hirooka from DoCoMo,[24] Andrew Kass from Microsoft, U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Michael C. Polt and many others.
EITC has given high priority to accessibility and special needs since its foundation. The current building was erected with accessibility in mind[33] and was tested by a disability activist group in 2010, and as a result, received 2.7 points out of 3 [34] (at the time, it was considered the only Estonian UAS to be fully accessible). The college subsequently received a commendation from the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People.
Throughout the history of the college (as of 2012), the scholarships have been founded by Baltic Computer Systems, Datel, Elion, EMT, Eesti Ühispank / SEB, Hansapank / Swedbank, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Kungla Dialoog, Liewenthal Electronics, Mantador Estonia, Microlink, Microsoft, Nokia, Open Estonia Foundation, Oracle, Santa Monica Networks, Starman, Sybase Symantec, Tallinn City Government and Tele2.
The college takes part in the following partnership programmes:
International partnerships include[35]