• Goal
• Impacts
• Supporters
• FAQ

Let’s secure the future of STEM education — support the teacher who inspires!

Teachers are the pillars of support for our youth. The more young students we can inspire in primary school with real and natural sciences, the more will continue these studies in secondary school and university. This broadens the future opportunities for young people. Through them, Estonia’s future can see a growing high-tech and science-based industry.

Estonia’s education system has been excellent and recognized worldwide, but we face serious challenges. The supply of basic school teachers is declining, with the highest turnover in this education stage. Nearly 40% of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years (Heateo Foundation study “Teacher Career 2015-2022”). The dropout rate is especially high in basic schools. At the same time, young people’s interest in STEM subjects is declining, and fewer students choose advanced mathematics in secondary school, which is essential for pursuing technology and engineering studies at university. Our solution is the Basic School STEM Teachers Support Fund, aimed at supporting teachers who shape and inspire the talents of the future.

4 scholarships for each county in Estonia

Every donation counts!

The fund is driven by open hearts and is entirely financed through donations. Therefore, every contribution the fund can collect is crucial for gathering scholarship amounts. If the scholarship size is 1800 euros, then 36 people donating 50 euros each would be needed. And if that teacher, during their teaching, inspires 20-30 students to engage with physics, technology, mathematics, biology, or chemistry, then that 50 euros has changed the lives of those young people.

You can nominate teachers yourself

Anyone can nominate teachers by submitting an application. Teachers are also welcome to apply for the scholarship themselves by completing an application. Applications can be submitted throughout the month of September. More detailed information will be provided soon. Applications are received by the TalTech Development Foundation, which forms a committee to review and evaluate them. The committee includes representatives from the Teachers' Union, supporters, and TalTech. For each county, the committee selects four teachers to receive scholarships.

Impacts on STEM Education and Teachers

STEM subjects are one of the key pillars of Estonia’s economy and innovation. These subjects are crucial for the development of engineering sciences, information technology, and smart industry. Moreover, understanding STEM is essential for setting up problem statements in any field. If young people lose interest and confidence in STEM subjects during basic school, their opportunities to continue studies in technology and science in the future diminish. This, in turn, may slow down the development and international competitiveness of Estonia’s economy.

The TalTech Development Foundation, in cooperation with the Estonian Teachers’ Union, conducted a survey among basic school STEM teachers. The results showed that a large proportion of teachers enjoy their work and are motivated by eager students with bright eyes. And the biggest motivators for students are precisely their teachers. A student spends 8+ hours a day at school with their teachers.

What do we want to achieve?

More basic school students who dare to try and experiment in STEM subjects, even if it initially seems difficult. A larger number of young people choosing advanced mathematics in upper secondary school and continuing their studies in technology, engineering, and natural sciences. In the years to come, more engineers, scientists, and technologists who will help take Estonia’s economy to the next level.

What motivates teachers?

[icon name="check" prefix="fas"] Student success
[icon name="check" prefix="fas"] Self-development and further education
[icon name="check" prefix="fas"] Recognition

When students succeed in their field, it gives the teacher plenty of motivation to inspire and encourage other young people. Teachers are naturally committed to their own continuous development and receive gratitude from society, colleagues, parents, and students. TalTech also inspires and provides further training for teachers. At least once a year, TalTech’s Open University organizes an inspiration day for basic school teachers of science subjects, aiming to showcase practical solutions where students can later apply their knowledge of science subjects in their studies and careers. Over 40 school teachers from across Estonia participated in the inspiration day in spring 2025.

“When children enjoy learning and parents appreciate my work, it gives me strong inner satisfaction and motivation to continue.”

[icon name="calculator" prefix="fas"] Teacher of Informatics and Mathematics in Ida-Virumaa

“I love my work and do it with all my heart.”

[icon name="square-root-variable" prefix="fas"] A mathematics, natural sciences, and computer science teacher from Lääne-Virumaa

"I like my work and believe it is important to help young people around me notice the laws of nature."

[icon name="earth-europe" prefix="fas"] Mathematics, science, and physics teacher from Viljandi County

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Supporters

• Andrus Purde
• Bharath Chari, Titanium OÜ
• Elinor Toming
• Estel Pukk
• Miina Karafin
• Tiit Land

Join us and support Estonia’s future!

Every contribution—whether financial support, mentoring, sharing experience, or simply raising awareness—helps create new and better opportunities for both teachers and youth. Feel free to share information about the fund with colleagues, community members, school teachers, and local businesses.

• Goal
• Scholarship
• Supporters
• FAQ

Support the education of Ukrainian students at TalTech!

In March 2022, the TalTech Ukrainian Students Fund was established under the Tallinn University of Technology Development Foundation to channel donations in support of Ukrainian students pursuing their studies at TalTech. In 2022, more than 20,000 euros were raised and distributed as scholarships to 35 students of Ukrainian origin. The fund is supported by both individuals and companies. From 2023 to 2025, the fund’s largest supporter has been the TalTech Library, which raises donations for Ukrainian students through its annual charitable book fair.

We collect donations for Ukrainian students to give them the opportunity to continue their studies at TalTech even in times of crisis. The living conditions and everyday expenses of war refugees can make it difficult to focus on studies and pursue higher education. Scholarships help cover living costs, study materials, and other essential expenses, enabling students to concentrate on building their future through education. Every donation supports talented young people who want to contribute their knowledge and skills to the future of both Estonia and Ukraine.

"Everything is so much more expensive in Estonia than in Ukraine. It has been hard to adjust. For example, food, medicine, and things needed for my studies," – Anna, a master's student in Cybersecurity at TalTech.

Awarding the Scholarship

We aim to support at least one student with Ukrainian citizenship each semester. Scholarships are awarded through the Development Foundation’s biannual public scholarship competitions, and the number of scholarships depends on the total amount of donations collected. Bachelor’s and Master’s level students with Ukrainian citizenship studying at Tallinn University of Technology are eligible to apply. Detailed conditions are available in the scholarship guidelines.

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Supporters and Grantees

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• CARIAD
• Kristiina Kristal
• Priit Roosipuu
• Sasha Sovenko
• TalTech library
• Tarvo Niine

The list of donors is updated once a week.

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• Autumn 2024 - Anna Mandrenko
• Spring 2025 - Vira Mykhailova

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• Goal
• Scholarship
• FAQ

Support the education of students with special needs!

The Mihkel Aitsam Scholarship was established in 2015 by Eesti Telekom, Silberauto, and Harju Elekter with the approval of the TalTech Alumni Association and at the initiative of Sven Kõllamets, advisor to TalTech students with special needs. The aim of the Mihkel Aitsam Memorial Scholarship is, in line with M. Aitsam’s life’s work, to support and promote the university-level education of students with special needs at Tallinn University of Technology.

Each autumn, the goal is to award the scholarship to a TalTech student with special needs who serves as an example to others through their academic achievements and active involvement.

The scholarship fund is looking for supporters!

Awarding the Scholarship

The Mihkel Aitsam Memorial Scholarship is intended for one student at Tallinn University of Technology who has a disability or other special need that causes or may cause additional expenses in obtaining an education. Applicants are expected to demonstrate good academic performance and a strong interest in their chosen field of study.

The scholarship is awarded through a public competition based on the documents submitted by students as part of the Development Fund’s scholarship competitions, which are held twice a year. More information on the conditions can be found in the scholarship statute.

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Mihkel Aitsam was born on October 9, 1929, in Pärnu and passed away on August 27, 2013.

Mihkel Aitsam was an Estonian engineer and a disability rights activist.

He was born into a family of schoolteachers. Due to poliomyelitis, his legs were partially paralyzed, but he completed regular schooling. In 1964, he graduated from the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute’s Faculty of Energy with a degree in automation and telemechanics, earning the diploma of engineer-energy specialist. His professional career culminated in the position of chief engineer at the ETKVL Computing Center.

The childhood polio imposed limitations on Mihkel Aitsam’s mobility. His personal experiences confirmed the main problem faced by people with disabilities: social exclusion. Aitsam refused to accept this.

He was the first person with a disability in Estonia to be issued a driver’s license under special permission, which had to be requested from Moscow.

Between 1980 and 1981, he was a board member and chairman of the Automi sector for owners of manually operated vehicles, a founding member and chairman of the Invasport amateur sports club from 1982 to 1989, a board member of the Estonian Invasport Union since 1986, chairman of the Estonian Disability Associations’ Union from 1987 to 1994, and director of AS Eesti Ortopeedia since 1994. To deepen his understanding of these issues, he worked as a volunteer crisis counselor on the night hotline at the Tallinn Crisis Assistance Center and founded the NGO “Ma kuulan Teid” (“I am listening to you”), which provides psychological support. From 1996 to 1998, he was on the board of the Tallinn Association of People with Mobility Impairments, serving as chairman.

He shared his extensive experience with youth by lecturing on disability psychology at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute and the Tallinn Pedagogical Seminary.

In 2001, the President of the Republic of Estonia awarded Mihkel Aitsam the Order of the Estonian Red Cross, Class III, in recognition of his merits in the disability movement.

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• Challenge your senses
• Erika Maksimova
• Harju Elekter AS
• Kaja Elstein
• Kaire Raasik
• Kevin Liimask
• Kristiina Kristal
• Mare Orav
• Rein Vaikmäe
• Tamara Kõllamets
• Telia Eesti AS
• Triin Toomesaar

The list of supporters is updated once a week.

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Year 2015 - Henri Telk

Year 2016- Jako Stein, Merilin Vihmaru

Year 2017- Marten Kask

Year 2018 - Hannes Pärnaste, Alexei Malovitchko

Autumn 2019 - ei antud välja

Autumn 2023 - Rasmus Juhanson

Spring 2025 - Kertu Lille

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