For Tallinn University of Technology (TTU, founded in 1918) business and entrepreneurship education constitute a great chance towards effective knowledge and technology transfer into business generation and growth.
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia with 379.000 inhabitants (29% of the total population of 1.36 Mio). The two cities of Tallinn and Tartu (the second largest city) are the centres of gravity for entrepreneurship, R&D and innovation in Estonia.
The high level of economic freedom (in worldwide-comparisons ranking at No. 6 in 2003/ 2004) and the rapid institutional reforms and structural development during the 1990s enabled a strong and growing SME-activity as an important source for the economic development in Estonia and an average GDP-growth rate of 5% p.a. since 1995. Meanwhile the agricultural sector contributes only 5% to GDP, whereas industry and construction contribute by 26% and services by 69%. Such development thrives on entrepreneurial attitudes in society, on confidence to start with businesses, and last but not least on the high value of education among the population.

Against this background, the mission of Tallinn University of Technology is to provide educational, research and innovation services in the fields of engineering and entrepreneurship, which are internationally competitive and significant for Estonia's sustained development.

The university emphasizes its regional links by different activities, e.g. Innovation Centre Foundation (TUIC), Centres of R&D Excellence (ICT, (Solar energy) Materials, Non-linear Mechanics, Electronics, Biomedoical and Gene Technologies, Environmental Technologies), TTU Competence centres, SPINNO Program for knowledge-based services and support of spin-offs by students and staff. Cooperation with Tallinn municipality, ministries and the business world are part of this work.

Cooperating unit in BEPART is the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration with 1.745 out of the 9.500 students of all TTU. Since 2002 TTU has switched from the system of diploma-studies to the system of Bachelor, Master and Ph.D.-studies. It is an ongoing process to institutionalize entrepreneurship education and training within these curricula, throughout the university and more far reaching into programs of continuing education with regional links.
BEPART is a chance to develop high quality in entrepreneurship education and training, especially in methods like action-learning and the use of computer-based and blended learning.

Responsible local project manager and contact-person at TTU:
Ene Kolbre
Professor, Ph.D.

Tallin University of Technology
Department of Business Administration
Kopli 101
EE 11712 Tallinn

Web http://www.ttu.ee

Ene Kolbre

Phone +372-620 39 52
Fax +372-620 39 53

ekolbre@tv.ttu.ee