Foresight webinar: Who should foot the bill for higher education?

“The problem of funding higher education has reached a point where the rectors of universities are not prepared to sign administrative agreements with the state at the current funding level,” said the Foresight Centre expert Uku Varblane. “Additional millions could provide temporary relief but there is an increasing need for a fundamental and long-term solution. For example, we could ask whether Estonia should opt for a paid or partially paid higher education because of the lack of funding.”

The webinar, which starts at 3 p.m. on 1 February, looks at trends in funding higher education in European countries, and asks how these compare to the funding of higher education in Estonia.

The key speakers of the webinar are Kristof De Witte, Professor of the KU Leuven (Belgium), speaking on “Funding mechanisms and principles of higher education”, and Kaire Põder, Professor of the Estonian Business School, and Triin Lauri, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Tallinn University, speaking on “Comparative overview of funding students in Europe, and how educational preferences differ among countries.”

Member of the Riigikogu Jürgen Ligi presents his comments on the matter. The discussion is moderated by Kaire Põder.

The webinar takes place on 1 February at 3–4.30 p.m. via Zoom. You can register at https://arenguseire.ee/veebiseminar-kes-peaks-maksma-korghariduse-arve. Webinar takes place in English.

In 2021/22, the Foresight Centre is doing a research into the Future of Higher Education in Estonia, to identify the development trends and opportunities in higher education over the next 15 years.

The Foresight Centre is an advisory board at the Chancellery of the Riigikogu that analyses long-term developments in society and economy. The Centre conducts research projects to analyse the long-term developments in the Estonian society, and to identify new trends and development directions.