The Ministry of Education and Research is working with new performance indicators. These will help increase the number of young people acquiring higher education. Kristi Raudmäe, the head of higher education, says that if universities have more first-time graduates, they will receive more funding.
The ministry wants universities to help reduce the number of people without professional education. By 2035, the plan is for 45% of young people aged 25-34 to have higher education.
Tõnu Viik, the rector of Tallinn University, says that the new performance indicator could help, but universities should be cautious in its implementation. For example, age should not be a basis for preference.
Piret Viirpalu, representative of applied higher education institutions, notes that the new indicator may make it difficult for career changers to obtain higher education. It could particularly affect the training of teachers and healthcare workers.
Kristi Raudmäe confirms that obtaining higher education will not become more difficult. She says that people do not always need a new degree and can also choose short courses or micro-degrees.
The planned indicator is expected to come into force in 2027. Viik and Viirpalu believe that more thought should be given before its implementation to ensure it does not hinder the learning of career changers.