ADOPTED
by the Council of TUT Kuressaare College as of 21.06.2006
Heard at the meeting of the TUT Council 17.10.2006


STRATEGIC PLAN OF KURESSAARE COLLEGE OF TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2006-2010


1. MISSION AND BASES OF ACTIVITY

The Strategic Plan of Kuressaare College of Tallinn University of Technology (hereinafter TUT) is based on the Strategic Plan of Tallinn University of Technology 2006-2010; it proceeds from the situation in vocational and higher education and from the strategic documents governing provision of education, as well as from the Regional Development Strategy of Estonia and strategic documents related to it. It takes into account the social needs of the country, focusing on the regional needs of Saaremaa West-Estonia, and considers the estimated demand for the work force.

Mission

Kuressaare College of TUT is a regional education centre the mission of which is to insure a fair access to the quality higher education and in-service training; to contribute to the balanced development of the country as well as to facilitate cooperation between the local community and educational and development institutions of the Baltic Sea region.

The primary task of Kuressaare College of TUT is provision of professional (applied) higher education in the fields of regional priority and development activities supporting the progress of Saaremaa, West Estonia and Estonian islands. Kuressaare College of Tallinn University of Technology is an educational institution of Tallinn University of Technology, through which the University supports regional development.

Vision 2010

Kuressaare College of TUT is an attractive regional centre of education, research and development, located in a small peaceful town with excellent living conditions, high-quality working and learning environment, as well as a lively international cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

Key values:

  • closeness, humanism, caring;
  • connection with the University, the local community and enterprise;
  • flexibility in the content and organisation of studies.

2. MAJOR GOALS 2006-2010

2.1. Enhancement and assurance of the quality of studies, pursuant to the requirements of the quality assurance system of TUT and of the Quality Agreement of Estonian Universities acting as legal persons in public law.

2.2. Enhancement of the flexibility, diversity and furtherance of internationalisation of the studies.

2.3. Attainment of a volume of provision of education that is required for the sustainable development of the institution.

2.4. Creation of a network of regional centres of competency in cooperation with TUT and the colleges of other universities; initiation and active participation in regional development projects.

2.5. Improvement of the learning and working environment and non-work facilities of the students body and staff members of the College.

3. ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

The primary goals of academic activities are high quality of studies, increasing of the volume of provision of education, as well as flexible and effective organisation of studies. The quality of studies is achieved pursuant to the requirements of the quality assurance system of TUT and of the Quality Agreement of Estonian Universities acting as legal persons in public law.

To achieve the goals set for academic activities, the College shall:

3.1. Ensure high quality and continuous development of the study programmes.

3.1.1. Start an applied higher education curriculum in Electronics.

3.1.2. Develop and expand the curriculum of Electronics in cooperation with social and industrial partners and institutes of TUT; develop narrower fields of specialisation in Power Electronics, Electronics and Information Technology.

3.1.3. Cooperate with institutes of TUT in developing of an integrated system of applied higher education, Bachelor’s study and Master’s study (including international Master’s programmes) in Information and Communication Technology, in order to provide students with a wider selection of courses and give them more opportunities for mobility within the same as well as between different levels of higher education.

3.1.4. Develop the curriculum of Tourism and Catering Management together with Kuressaare Vocational School, and narrower fields of specialisation in tourism, hotel and catering management.

3.1.5. Develop the curriculum of Small Business Management, by providing a wider selection of courses and enhancing the flexibility of organisation of studies.

3.1.6. Start preparations for opening new curriculum(a), considering regional development priorities in marine activity, environmental management etc, in domains of technology, industrial production and processing and/or computer science.

3.1.7. Successfully pass accreditation of three applied higher education curricula:
· October 2006 – Tourism and Catering Management;
· October 2007 – Small Business Management;
· 2009 – Electronics.

3.2. Develop flexible forms and methods of instruction and study.

3.2.1. Extend distance learning, and start provision of partial distance education in Tourism and Catering Management and in Electronics.

3.2.2. Increase the share of E-learning from 13% to 25%.

3.2.3. Increase the volume of continuing education by

  • providing in-service training for professional working in the fields covered by the study programmes of the College;
  • offering introductory vocational training courses for secondary school students;
  • offering preparatory courses for the secondary and vocational school students intending to study at institutions of higher education;
  • facilitating further education courses of other structural units of TUT, required in the region;
  • facilitating, in cooperation with universities, curricula (and/or their modules) provided by other institutions of higher education, in case regional need for such courses becomes evident;

3.2.4. Acknowledge prior learning and work experience in completion of the curriculum; shall conclude agreements with partner institutions on transfer of credit points.

3.3. Support internationalisation in provision of education.

3.3.1. Increase the number of courses held in foreign languages, thus improving the language skills of the students and facilitating admission of international students.

3.3.2. Increase the mobility of students and teaching staff; expand the cooperation network of the ERASMUS Programme and increase the number of ERASMUS partner agreements to a minimum of eight; a minimum of 5% of students shall spend part of their practical training abroad.

3.3.3. Develop, in cooperation with partner universities, a joint international curriculum in Tourism Management containing a semester-long module prepared by and conducted at Kuressaare College.

3.4. Attain a volume of provision of education required for sustainable development of the institution.

3.4.1. Increase the number of full-and part-time students to 300 by the year 2010.

3.4.2. In 2006-2010, prepare a minimum of 190 professional specialists with applied higher education.

3.4.3. As of 2010, prepare a minimum of 2% of all specialist trained at the institutions of applied higher education of Estonia.

3.4.4. As of 2010, have a student body of a minimum of 550 people studying at full-time and further education courses (that is 1.5% of the population of Saare County and 2.5% of the population of the town of Kuressaare and its environs), offering the study programmes of Kuressaare College and facilitating the opening of programmes/modules of TUT and other institutions of higher education in Kuressaare.

4. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Research and development activities of the College are aimed at an active partnership in the research and development projects supporting the advancement of the region. The College liaisons with the University and the enterprises of the region, as well as with educational institutions, local governments and regional development agencies.

To achieve the goals, the College shall:

4.1. Initiate and promote the raising of innovation awareness in the region; participate in regional projects supporting the formation of an incubation centre and technology park, as well as application of innovative solutions in the enterprises of Saaremaa County.

4.2. Mediate the knowledge-based services of TUT, pursuant to the tripartite agreement concluded by Tallinn University of Technology, Saaremaa County Government and Kuressaare Town Government on 20 January 2006.

4.3. Participate in organising international conferences and Doctoral School conferences in Saaremaa, addressing issues that promote the advancement of the region and provide public interest.

4.4. Develop itself into a regional centre of competency and expertise, which is a member of an Estonian-wide network of regional centres of competency, formed on the basis of regional colleges of Estonian universities; gather data and carry out research facilitating and supporting regional policy decision making.

4.5. Continue to coordinate the compilation of a series of concise reference books on Saaremaa; in addition to the two main volumes, a biographic lexicon „Saaremaa and Islanders“ will be published.

4.6. Cooperate with other educational institutions of the regions (upper-secondary schools, vocational schools, study centres).

4.7. Develop international cooperation, with a focus on the Baltic Sea region, through the ERASMUS-partners and regional cooperation networks (Eurohouse, B7, Saaremaa University Centre, BSRUN etc.).

5. MEMBERSHIP

5.1. Students

In January 2006, Kuressaare College of TUT had 117 students. By the year 2010 the number of students will have risen to a minimum of 300. Students are represented in the College Council by two elected members. The right of the students to self-government and participation in decision-making is performed by the Student Council of the College, acting pursuant to the statutes adopted by the Student Council of TUT. The mission of the College Student Council is to promote the educational and cultural development of the students, and to protect the social and economic rights of the students.

To support the process of study and self-realisation of students, the College shall:

5.1.1. Strengthen the students’ motivation to study.

  • Provide more possibilities for studying and training abroad in the framework of the ERASMUS-agreements.
  • Provide more possibilities for practical training in local enterprises, organise a training course in higher education pedagogy for supervisors of practical training, and enter into respective agreements with enterprises.
  • Motivate students to apply for the regional student scholarships (scholarships given by Saaremaa Association of Local Governments and Kuressaare Town Government).
  • In cooperation with local enterprises, found scholarships for the students studying at Kuressaare College.

5.1.2. Further the system of student counselling and career services, distribute and mediate information on career and practical training opportunities; employ tutors.

5.1.3. Support and promote healthy leisure activities of students.

5.1.4. Support student events and activities, as well as the work of the Student Council.

5.1.5. Construct a student hostel, together with Kuressaare Campus.

5.2. Teaching, research and other staff

In January 2006, the total number of the staff working under employment contract, was 10, of whom 5 where teachers. By the year 2010, the number of teaching staff in a principal job will have doubled to ten.

To develop and motivate the staff, the College shall:

5.2.1. Increase the number of teachers working under employment contracts; coordinators of the curricula shall be full-time College teachers.

5.2.2. Promote cooperation between the teaching staff of the College and the academics of TUT, forming mentor-teacher pairs of academics.

5.2.3. Support and promote the graduates having remarkable academic results in the Master’s study programme of TUT, as well as their start of academic career at Kuressaare College.

5.2.4. Promote cooperation between the teachers of the College, Kuressaare Vocational School and Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium via common projects and in-service training courses.

5.2.5. Engage teaching staff in completing individual work schedules and reports, in keeping with the regulations adopted at TUT; conduct regular yearly evaluation interviews with the academic and support staff.

5.2.6. Increase the share of training costs of the staff to 4% of the total expenditures on staff; paying attention to both professional and pedagogic training.

5.2.7. Ensure competitive salaries to the academic staff, which correspond to the goals stipulated in the Strategic Plan of TUT.

6. MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Realisation of the goals set in the Strategic Plan is based on obtaining a required revenue base and development of the infrastructure to support provision of education, as well as for development purposes.

To achieve that, the College shall:

6.1. Increase the budgetary volume at least three times by the end of the period.

6.1.1. Treble the admission of new students by 2010.

6.1.2. Increase yearly receipts from tuition fees by about 10%, reaching in 2010 a level of 30% of the KC budget.

6.1.3. Attain a yearly 10% growth in the volumes of continuing education and in-service training.

6.1.4. Seek additional funds through development and investment projects.

6.2. Improve learning, work and non-work environment.

6.2.1. Together with Kuressaare Campus, construct a hostel for 100 students in the vicinity of Kuressaare recreation area.

6.2.2. In cooperation with Kuressaare Campus, complete the renovation of the main building of Kuressaare College at 7, Rootsi St., as envisaged in the project supported by the Project Preparation Fund (PPF-2) of the EU structural funds; seek financial support from the EU Structural funds.

6.2.3. Continue join use and development of the college building in cooperation with Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium.

6.2.4. Prepare construction and installation of a laboratory for the needs of tourism and catering studies.

6.2.5. Modernise the equipment of the electronics laboratory.

6.2.6. By the year 2010, double the investments per students to be made into books, magazines and other resources.

6.2.7. Install IT equipment in all study facilities.

6.2.8. Continue, pursuant to the articles of cooperation agreements, joint use of the training kitchen and library of Kuressaare Vocational School.

7. IMPLEMENTATION

7.1. Indicators of performance showing the fulfilment of the Strategic Plan, financial indicators, the estimated numbers of students to be admitted and the numbers of graduates, as well as the plan of investments are given in Appendixes 1-4.

7.2. Annual evaluation concerning the fulfilme nt of the Strategic Plan and the amendments to be introduced shall rest with the Council of Kuressaare College of TUT. Pursuant to the Statutes of the College, the Strategic Plan is submitted for approval and authorisation to the Council of TUT. The tasks set in the Strategic Plan shall be taken into account when drafting the annual budget of the College.