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Language Technology Education and Research in Estonia

Bologna system

The Estonian universities have moved over to the Bologna style Bachelor's and Master's degrees (3+2 study years). BA/BSc degree consists of 120 CP (credit points; 1 CP = 40 work hours =1.5 ECTS) and has a normal duration 3 study years. MA/MSc degree amounts to additional 80 CP. All new students follow the Bologna style curriculum since 2002/2003. The students who started earlier may complete their studies according to the previous scheme (4+2 years, or 160+80 CP) but their BA/BSc studies must be completed not later than in 2005/2006. PhD studies were not affected by the Bologna process.

The courses are organised on the basis of credit accumulation. One credit corresponds to 40 hours of work, at least half of which is constituted by independent work. While in full-time study, most students complete 40 credits a year.

The model of higher education: 3 years of Bachelor + 2 years of Master + 4 years of PhD studies, or 120 + 80 + 160 CP

Graduate education arrangements in general

Two universities are involved in language technology education.

University of Tartu. On the PhD level, the relevant research training is typically carried out under general linguistics or computer science. On the Master�s level: the speciality of computational linguistics (with linguistic background) and language technology (with computer science background).

Tallinn University of Technology. Some PhD students of information technology are specialising in the field of speech technology, following individual study programmes.

PhD education

PhD studies (160 CP) consist of

(1) courses 30 CP

(2) teaching 10 CP

(3) dissertation 120 CP

Admission to the PhD studies is based on the results of an entrance examination and interview. The courses may be elected by a student, to fix the gaps of earlier education. Teaching typically is carried out at the home university. The dissertation may be either a monograph or a collection of refereed journal/conference articles plus a summary. Independent on the form of dissertation, the main results must be published at least in three articles in refereed journals or conference proceedings before the representation of the dissertation. PhD dissertations are defended in front of the board, unique for each dissertation. Two opponents are appointed for each dissertation, at least one of them should be from abroad.

The progress of PhD students is reviewed by the departments in charge every study year.

The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research established stipends for PhD students. Only these students who are working according the study plan can apply to a stipend.

* courses of visiting professors

* support from Tiger University

Estonian Doctoral School of Linguistics and Language Technology (EDSLLT)

The doctoral school (the project is financed by the Foundation Innove July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2008) has started with 35 PhD students from three Estonian universities (University of Tartu, Tallinn University (former Tallinn Pedagogical University) and Tallinn University of Technology). Language Technology students come from the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology. The aim of the project is to provide courses, invite visiting lecturers, support mobility of students, upgrade infrastructure, organize workshops where PhD students can present their work, discuss and get feedback).

Education for Master's degree

University of Tartu

Admission to the Master�s studies is based on the results of an entrance examination.

*The speciality of Computational linguistics at the Faculty of Philosophy => Master of Arts in Humanities, MA (computational lingistics)

*Language Technology at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science => Master of Science in Engineering, MSc (computer science)

The master's programme in Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics

Precondition for entry into the programme of computational linguistics - completion of the speciality module in computational linguistics of the bachelor´s programme. Precondition for entry into the programmes of Estonian language, Finnish language and culture or Finno-Ugric languages - completion of the relevant base, narrow field and speciality modules in the volume of 44 CP. Precondition for entry into the programme of Estonian as a second language - narrow field module of Estonian language and culture for non-Estonian speaking students (16 CP) and speciality module (16 CP) or narrow field module in Estonian and Finno-Ugric linguistics (16 CP) and speciality module in Estonian language (16 CP). Precondition for entry into the programme of Hungarian language and culture - completion of speciality module in Hungarian language and culture at the bachelor level. Precondition for entry into general linguistics is completion of the speciality studies of one language in the volume of 44 CP.

The curriculum is composed of studies in the speciality (56 CP), master´s thesis (20 CP) and optional subjects (4 CP). Master�s thesis may be replaced with master examination (5CP+5 CP), the volume of studies in the speciality will in this case rise to 66 CP.

The master's programme in Computer Science provides profound knowledge about a specific field of computer science which enables a graduate to conduct development work in the field, qualifications to hold specialised consultations, and teamwork and project work skills. A student may choose between the narrow fields of theoretical computer science, language technology or cryptology.

GENERAL SCHEME of Master's studies in Computer Science:

Total 80 CP

Compulsory subjects 32 CP

Didactics of informatics 4 CP

Elective subjects 16 CP

Optional subjects 4 CP

Master�s seminar 4 CP

Master�s thesis 20 CP

Research organisations

University of Tartu

An informal group of computational linguistics between two faculties:

* chair of general linguistics at the Faculty of Philosophy (Prof. Haldur Õim) � 2 teachers + 8 researches

* chair of language technology at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (Prof. Mare Koit) � 3 teachers + 1 researcher

Institute of Cybernetics at Tallinn University of Technology: Laboratory of Phonetics and Speech Technology (Dr. Einar Meister) � 5 researchers

Institute of Estonian Language: 4-5 researchers in language technology (Dr. Ülle Viks, etc.)

Private companies:

Filosoft

Tilde (in Riga, Lativia with bureau in Tallinn): localization and translation services, multilanguage support software

Some of the areas of research and expertise

University of Tartu

* text corpora of Estonian, corpus of spoken Estonian, Estonian dialogue corpus

* computational morphology, syntax of Estonian

* lexical-semantic data base of Estonian (WordNet)

* dialogue modelling

Institute of Cybernetics at Tallinn University of Technology, Laboratory of Phonetics and Speech Technology

* speech technology (TTS syntheziser, speech and speaker recognition of Estonian)

Institute of Estonian Language

* computational morphology of Estonian

* text corpora of Estonian

* machine-readable lexicons