Industrial Master's Programme in IT Sets New Records

This year, the seventh intake of the Industrial Master’s Programme in IT, run by the University of Tartu’s Institute of Computer Science, saw a record number of applicants—both from students and companies. In total, 18 companies are participating in the programme, and 54 master’s students applied for the positions they offered.

The aim of the programme is to bring academia closer to the private and public sectors. In the Industrial Master’s Programme in IT, second-year master’s students work with a company for 11 months and write their master’s thesis on a topic related to the company's field of activity. For companies, the programme offers a fresh, research-driven perspective on their work and the chance to shape future talent.

The participating companies presented students with a range of challenges, with artificial intelligence emerging as the key theme—particularly its application in rescue services, financial crime prevention, and electricity production forecasting. Projects also involved data science and language model applications across various sectors, including telecommunications, logistics, and e-commerce.

This year also saw the return of industrial companies to the programme. The manufacturing company GPV Estonia sees participation as an opportunity for its own growth. “The industrial sector is undergoing major changes—digitalisation and the introduction of new solutions are key to our competitiveness. Involving universities is the best way to keep up with the times,” said Jaan Oder, IT Manager at GPV Estonia.

Tarmetec also values the partnership with the university. Their Quality Manager, Maris Viibur-Vilt, emphasised the importance of young people in shaping the future of industry: “Young people bring fresh energy and innovation into organisations. We need to create environments where they can bring their ideas to life.”

“We joined the programme to bridge the gap between academia and industry. It allows us to explore and test new ideas that support our future plans,” said Carlos Bentes, Senior Data Scientist at Bolt. The company sees the Industrial Master’s Programme in IT as a way to collaborate with the university on research and development, while also investing in the next generation.

MyDello also praised the collaborative format. Their Chief Technology Officer, Siimu Kaas, commented: “The programme’s duration and structure allow us to experiment with innovative solutions that can result in tangible services or products. The student can try out different approaches, which may not succeed on the first attempt—but that’s part of the learning process.”

Lisette Võlu, representative of Estonian Rescue Board, highlighted the importance of testing different technologies: “The adoption of technology in the rescue field enables better response, accident prevention, and more efficient use of resources. Working with a student helps us create innovative AI solutions in an area where such technologies have not yet been widely applied.”

Students will begin their collaboration with companies this coming summer, which will also count towards their compulsory internship.