4. Academic culture Overview of studying and teaching within Estonian higher education
There is a relatively small power distance between students and university teachers in Estonia, i.e. professors treat students as their equals, students can initiate discussions, learning is studentcentred, and the professor is more of an expert and advisor.
The organisation of the work of Estonian higher education is formal and informal at the same time. On the one hand, the differences between lecturers and students are small, but in order to succeed in higher education it is important to always follow proper documentation rules and deadlines. Organisation of study and the documentation related to it To succeed at an Estonian higher education institution it is incredibly important to keep in mind all documents and deadlines related thereto. There is a clear set of rules in place in each school, according to which study type takes place. Compliance with these rules is necessary. Each school also has deadlines, which must be followed and all documents must be submitted officially. Here are some more important documents and deadlines that must be remembered.
• Academic calendar – the school’s
deadlines for registering for subjects, passing, etc., in addition to the academic calendar each institute and faculty has their own deadlines.
• Rules of the organisation of studies
(ÕKE in Estonian, OSR) – the regulations for studying and teaching in the school. OSR regulations cannot be surpassed and they cannot be changed by the lecturer, student advisers or individual students.
In addition, each school also has several other guidelines for students and it is important to learn these when commencing studies. It is not possible to surpass regulations and deadlines in Estonia by asking, negotiating or offering money. The same also applies in respect to the instructions and requirements for passing a subject given by lecturers. There are also other formalities in Estonian higher education, which a foreign student must know. Even though communication is informal, lecturers and others expect politeness in correspondence and general compliance with politeness rules. The student’s attire is also important, for example, when defending the final thesis, proper and academic clothing must be worn; and formal 22
and academic clothing must be worn at the graduation ceremony. More information can be found from your curriculum adviser. Generally in Estonia differences between lecturers and students are small, interaction is rather friendly and informal. Active participation and cooperation with other lecturers, is anticipated in lectures. Most lecturers expect active participation from students. Lecturers presume that students are also active in asking for additional information if what was learned is unclear. Independence is presumed when carrying out study tasks, for example when preparing and submitting homework. The lecturer presumes that upon problems arising, the student shall contact the lecturer himself or herself. In Estonian higher education the student himself or herself is responsible for their studies (incl. the choice of and passing of the subjects). Estonian higher education is flexible, allowing the student to make a lot of choices themselves, there are advisers and curriculum leaders in order to aid in decisions, but the student himself or herself is responsible for their decisions. In Estonia, plagiarism is considered the most serious violation of academic ethics. Plagiarism means publishing another author’s work (e.g. a study, an article or another text, but also a picture or a figure) or part of it (e.g. a diagram, a formula, a citation, but also a point of view or idea) as one’s own or using it extensively without referencing the source. To prevent plagiarism and detect it in a piece of work, Estonian universities use electronic plagiarism detection systems. Severe sanctions are in place both for plagiarism and for cheating, ranging from lowering the mark all the way to expulsion from university or not awarding the degree. In Estonia, it is not permitted to use someone else’s thoughts and ideas at all without reference i.e. the percentage of plagiarism permitted is zero (0). Each school has separate regulations for plagiarism and it is important that the student comply with them. In addition to plagiarism, correct language use and compliance with content requirements must be followed.
