200 Participants to Address Challenges in Estonian Vocational Education at a Hackathon
Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology, and EdTech Estonia are organizing an international vocational education-themed hackathon from November 15–17. Over 48 hours, participants will develop and test innovative ideas to improve the quality and accessibility of vocational education while addressing educational challenges with fresh solutions.
According to the hackathon's project manager, Janika Leoste, participants will tackle multiple challenges. "Our goal is to develop solutions that support the promotion of vocational education and the development of vocational skills required for future jobs. During the three days, we will explore ideas at TalTech's innovation and entrepreneurship center Mektory and Tallinn University that enhance the accessibility of sustainable and updatable learning materials, support vocational teachers and their successors, and address challenges in curriculum development and implementation," added Leoste.
Marit Kuusk, Head of the Vocational Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Research, noted that vocational education reform and educational innovation go hand in hand, as the labor market and its needs constantly evolve. "The state aims to integrate vocational education more closely with other educational levels to better align theoretical and practical training with labor market needs. Flexibility, personalized learning, and a learner-centered approach lay the foundation for innovative ideas and help make vocational education more attractive," said Kuusk.
Omari Loid, representing EdTech Estonia, highlighted the current mismatch between the resources needed by the education system and the available capacity. He pointed out that teachers' workloads are already critically high, with no significant increase in teacher numbers expected shortly. "It is therefore essential to find ways to use existing resources more intelligently, and this is where the potential of educational technology comes into play. This hackathon offers a unique opportunity to identify and test innovative solutions that help optimize educational resources and alleviate teachers' workloads," said Loid.
The vocational education-themed hackathon will host nearly 200 participants (half students) from Estonia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Armenia, China, Mexico, India, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries. The participants include vocational education experts, school leaders, teachers, students, software developers, UX specialists, business managers, edtech professionals, and policymakers. Twenty mentors will support teams, and the best solutions will be announced by a jury on Sunday, November 17, at Tallinn University.
The hackathon is organized in collaboration with the European Social Fund and supported by the Ministry of Education and Research, EdTech Estonia, Tallinn University, Tallinn University of Technology, and DigiEduHack 2024. Prizes for participants are provided by the Ministry of Education and Research, Tallinn University's School of Educational Sciences, EdTech Estonia, Tallinn Education Department, the Energy Discovery Centre, Tallinn University of Technology, Miltton, sTARTUp Day, Bonsay Technologies, Machine Learners, Tartu Vocational College, Estonian Maritime Academy, and the Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre.
The educational hackathon in Tallinn is part of the Europe-wide DigiEduHack 2024 week, which concludes on November 17. More than 50 hackathons are taking place across 26 countries, involving over 1,000 participants. DigiEduHack, supported by the European Commission, aims to promote innovation, collaboration, and creativity while driving positive change in digital education.