1. What kind of teaching methods will be used in EBS?
In broad terms they’ll remain the same. During the pandemic we went to the extremes of online learning, but we’re now reaching a midway point by combining online and on-site learning. As our new building will be ready by then as well, new technological developments are likely to improve hybrid learning and make it even more effective.
2. When will EBS launch its first virtual programme or curriculum?
Why not by 2028? Technology’s evolving at a frantic pace. What was new and interesting yesterday will be old hat tomorrow. We could launch a virtual curriculum right now if we wanted to, but one of the biggest challenges will be the proportion of networking, which is important in the university. Something along the lines of Metaverse will probably help solve this problem. But it will take a lot of time and money. At the same time, ChatGPT has shown us that when a leap occurs, it happens at breakneck speed.
3. What is the essential skill set that lecturers will need to possess to be successful at EBS?
Whether we’re talking about 2028 or even farther into the future, the key skill set good lecturers will need is social skills. You can be smart and know your stuff like the back of your hand, but as a teacher you have to be able to pass that on to other people.
4. What will the three biggest nationalities in EBS be?
I’d say that broadly speaking, they’ll be the same as they are now. Estonians and Finns will still be the two biggest groups, but I’m guessing Ukrainians will be the third biggest. Ukraine’s a big country with enormous potential, and more attention and resources have been focused on it recently. The war will end at some point and they’ll have to start rebuilding their country, but to do that they need knowledge. So why not get it from EBS?
5. Who among the ebsters has what it takes to become the president of a country, and if they do, then which country?
Given the next presidential elections in Estonia will take place as soon as 2026, it can’t be ruled out that the next president will come from an EBS background. But only time will tell who that is.
6. What will be the most popular programme or curriculum among prospective students, and why?
Probably International Business Administration. We live in a globalising world, and in a small country like Estonia there’s no other way to succeed than to look outwards. English is the lingua franca in most parts of the world, and borders and language skills aren’t the major barriers they once were. For example, you can get an education in Estonia but run a company in England.
7. Where and how will EBS celebrate its 40th birthday?
Our new building should be ready by then, so it would be a crying shame not to celebrate it there! 40 is a sort of decent, middle-aged person’s age. It ought to be celebrated in a fun and full-throttled but graceful way.
8. Which currency will tuition fees be paid in?
We’ve seen all kinds of coins and other things that will take over our financial system any day now. I’m more of an old-school believer and still worship at the temple of the euro. We’ve remained Estonians, but we’ve also become Europeans.
9. Will EBS have a therapist on staff?
Mental health’s far from being the taboo topic it once was. It’s pretty firmly embedded in our study programmes already, because no matter how good a manager or employee you are, we’re all human. Any leader worth their salt knows that running away from problems won’t solve them. So yes, I’m assuming there’ll be a therapist working at EBS by then.
10. What will EBS be famous for, and why?
Mostly the fact that we’ll be the first and probably only university in Estonia to have our own skyscraper! Our location in the city centre, with the stunning views that come with it, will be the envy of everyone.
But I think we’ll also be known for our international nature. Whereas public universities have chosen to limit the number of students coming from abroad, we see this as a good thing that enriches our campus.
11. Will defending a Master’s thesis be necessary for a Master’s degree?
I’m not sure there’s any way around it, to be honest. What style and format it ought to be in is another matter, considering the rapid development of AI.
12. What kind of new traditions will have emerged in EBS?
People are social animals. We want to sit down with others and talk to them and spend our time with them. But who you do all that with plays a big role here. One of the lovely things about studying at EBS is the people you surround yourself with and the environment you do it in. But after that?
We could start a new tradition by looking to the US, where the Harvard Club is open to Harvard alumni, faculty and board members. Something along those lines could work for EBS, I think. Even if it wasn’t a seven-days-a-week thing because Estonia’s so small, a club like that could open its doors at least one day a week. I’d see it as a great opportunity for alumni to spend time with one another and with EBS staff.
13. Will EBS have its first robotic students?
You could say, only half jokingly, that in some cases we already do! Students are trying to make their lives easier by using ChatGPT and other AI tools, after all. But AI uses all the data it’s fed to improve itself.
Seriously though, we won’t see robot students in the traditional sense studying and getting degrees, but I can see robots learning from EBS data and information. We live in an age where data’s like the new oil, but you have to know how to process it. That will allow us to further ourselves more and provide value to both students and society.
14. What will students be doing to keep themselves in shape during the exam period?
Exams are always a nerve-wracking time, but the optimist in me hopes students can always strike the right balance between work and fun so that they don’t burn out. Of course, it’s great to lecture others on morality if you’re in the habit of leaving things to the last minute yourself! So my other answer is coffee, and lots of it.