Tallinna Tehnikaülikool | |
Motto | Mente et manu |
---|---|
Motto in English
|
With wisdom and hands |
Type | Public |
Established | 1918 |
Rector | Prof. Jaak Aaviksoo |
Academic staff
|
1 160; international 128 |
Students | 12 000; international 1 400 |
Location |
Tallinn, Estonia 59°23′42″N 24°40′19″E / 59.3950°N 24.6719°ECoordinates: 59°23′42″N 24°40′19″E / 59.3950°N 24.6719°E |
Affiliations | BALTECH, UNICA, CESAER, SEFI, EUA, EAIE, NAFSA |
Website | www |
Established in 1918, Tallinn University of Technology (TTÜ; Estonian: Tallinna Tehnikaülikool, abbreviated TTÜ) is the only technical university in Estonia. TTÜ, in the capital city of Tallinn, is the nation’s leading academic institution in engineering, business, and public administration. TTÜ has colleges in Tallinn, Tartu, Kuressaare and Kohtla-Järve. Despite the similar names, Tallinn University and Tallinn University of Technology are separate institutions.
In the early twentieth century, Estonia recognised an urgent need for locally trained engineering specialists. Until then, young people from Estonia had received their specialist education in St. Petersburg, Germany or Riga. Opportunities had to be sought for engineering-minded people to acquire an Estonian-based education which was adapted to local conditions and needs; Estonia was in the process of establishing itself as an independent country.
On 17 September 1918, the Estonian Engineering Society opened an Estonian-based engineering school named Special Engineering Courses. That date has been recognised as the founding date of the Tallinn University of Technology. Programmes were offered in mechanical, electrical, civil and hydraulic engineering, shipbuilding and architecture. In 1919, the school became the private Tallinn College of Engineering, which in 1920 was declared a state institution. Teachers' efforts to develop an Estonian terminology for science and technology proved fruitful and the first engineering books were published. In 1923, the first engineering graduation theses were defended in Estonia. In the same year, a state laboratory of materials testing opened for research work.
By the 15 September 1936 Act of the Head of State, the school was granted university status, and named the Tallinn Technical Institute. The institute had two faculties: civil and mechanical engineering and chemistry and mining. In 1938, the name Tallinn Technical University (TTU) was effective. In 1940 the Faculty of Economics, in 1958 the Faculty of Power Engineering and in 1965 the Faculty of Control Engineering were founded. After 2003 the university was known in English as the Tallinn University of Technology (TTÜ).