EducationSchool education:
General education is divided into two parts: basic education (9 years: age 7 to 16) which is compulsory for all children in Estonia and secondary general education. Since 1993, the Basic School Leaving Certificate, obtained at the end of basic education, provides a student with the right to continue at the next level which offers two streams (in three further years): 1) Secondary general school/gymnasium education and 2) vocational education. Upon graduation of secondary general education, students obtain the Gumnaasiumi Loputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) which gives access to higher education. Students who have completed the study programme for secondary vocational education on the basis of basic school education will, upon graduation, obtain a Certificate on Acquiring Secondary Vocational Education Based on Basic Education (tunnistus pöhihariduse baasil kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta). Those who have completed the post-secondary vocational programme for secondary vocational education on the basis of secondary school education will, upon graduation, obtain a Certificate on Acquiring Secondary Vocational Education Based on Secondary Education (Tunnistus Keskhariduse Baasil Kutsekeskhariduse Omandamise Kohta). Vocational higher education is a one-stage higher education offered by secondary education based vocational education institutions or by applied higher education institutions (rakenduskõrgkool).
Higher education:
The higher education system is binary and consists of universities (ülikool) and applied higher education institutions (rakenduskörgkool). Since 1999 some post-secondary vocational schools have a right to offer vocational higher education. There are six public universities, twelve private universities, seven state institutions of applied higher education, six private applied higher education institutions, nine state vocational education institutions and eight private vocational education institutions offering vocational higher education. The usual duration of studies is three to four years. Higher education institutions are regulated by the Law on Universities (January 1995), the Law on Private Schools (June 1998), the Law on Applied Higher education Institutions (June 1998), the Law on Vocational Education Institutions (July 1998), the Law on the University of Tartu (January 1995), the Standard of Higher Education (June 2000) and the Law on the Organisation of Research and Developmental Activity (April 1997, 2001). The administration of higher education institutions or their study programmes is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. Private higher education institutions or their study programmes are officially recognized after accreditation.
Economy
Estonia, a new member of the WTO, has a high-income[1], modern market economy with increasing ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. It acceded to the European Union in 2004. There is a great degree of economic mobility and technological advancement. The state of the economy is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The high current account deficit remains a concern, it was caused by inflows of capital, including foreign direct investment. The economy has had high GDP growth in recent years (around 10% per annum).
Climate
Estonia has a temperate climate, with warm summers and severe winters. Temperatures range from a summer average of 70°F (30°C) to a winter average of 18°F (-8°C). Being on the Baltic Sea, the country is subjected to sea breezes and humidity and its northern latitude means long summer daylight hours (the longest summer day stretches to 19 hours), and dark winters when daylight sometimes lasts only six hours. The cold winter does not necessarily mean constant snow; in fact snowfalls are few and far between. When it falls it stays though, and there tends to be a layer of snow constantly on the ground between December and March. Summertime brings unexpected rain showers, so an umbrella and light raincoat are recommended.
Like the rest of coastal Estonia, Tallinn has a temperate climate, with warm summers and severe winters. Temperatures range from a summer average of 21°C (70°F) to an average in winter of -8°C (18°F). Being on the Baltic Sea the city is subjected to sea breezes and humidity, and its northern latitude means long summer daylight hours (the longest summer day stretches to 19 hours) and dark winters when daylight lasts sometimes only six hours. The cold winter does not necessarily mean constant snow; in fact snowfalls are few and far between. When it falls it stays, however, and there tends to be a layer of snow on the ground constantly between December and March. Summertime brings unexpected rain showers, so an umbrella and light raincoat are recommended.
List of Universities in ESTONIA
North America
North America
GRE
