Estonian Digital Education: HITSA

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HITSA, which stands for the Information Technology Foundation for Education, was a non-profit association that played a significant role Estonia's educational technology landscape.
What are the main aims and objectives?

HITSA was established with the primary goal of developing ICT education and digital teaching in Estonia. Its main objective was to ensure that graduates at all levels of education acquired the necessary digital competences for societal and economic development. HITSA aimed to change learning and teaching across all educational levels by promoting the smart use of ICT in pre-school, general, vocational, and higher education. The foundation focused on enhancing the quality of education through the integration of technology, initiating and guiding innovation in digital education, and fostering cooperation between the ICT industry, universities, educational institutions, and the state. HITSA also played a crucial role in providing training for educators and youth workers in digital technologies, supporting the development of digital infrastructure in schools, and implementing programs like ProgeTiger to encourage the use of technology, programming, and robotics in education. By pursuing these objectives, HITSA sought to position Estonia as a leader in digital education and contribute to the country's reputation as an advanced e-state.

How does the program work?

HITSA worked by initiating and guiding innovation in digital education, promoting the smart use of ICT in pre-school, general, vocational, and higher education. The foundation focused on enhancing the quality of education through the integration of technology and fostering cooperation between the ICT industry, universities, educational institutions, and the state. HITSA also provided training for educators and youth workers in digital technologies and supported the development of digital infrastructure in schools.

One of HITSA's main programs was the ProgeTiger programme, launched in 2012. This initiative aimed to encourage the use of technology, including programming and robotics, in preschool, general, and vocational education. ProgeTiger offered varied opportunities for integrating technology into studies, including basic and in-service training courses for teachers, subject-based model lessons and tasks, learning and teaching materials, and examples of curricula that integrate technology.

Another significant program was the IT Academy (IT Akadeemia), which focused on advancing and intensifying cooperation between the ICT industry, universities, other educational institutions, and the state. HITSA also managed the Education Cloud (Hariduspilv) program, which likely supported the digital infrastructure in educational institutions.

Core HITSA activities include:

  1. Advancing digital skills among students and teaching staff
  2. Information Systems: development and support
  3. Infrastructure: support and development
  4. Promotion of ICT education at all EDU levels
  5. Promotion and awareness-raising for use of ICT in education
What is the overall cost?

There is no available information about the cost of HITSA

How was it implemented?

HITSA, the Information Technology Foundation for Education in Estonia, was created as part of Estonia's broader initiative to digitalize its education system and society as a whole. The foundation of HITSA can be traced back to the country's early efforts in digital transformation, which began in the mid-1990s.

The creation of HITSA was a natural progression of Estonia's Tiger Leap program, launched in 1996. This program aimed to computerize and internetize all Estonian schools, laying the groundwork for a digitally literate society. As the Tiger Leap program evolved and expanded, it became clear that a more comprehensive approach to integrating technology in education was needed.

In response to this need, HITSA was established in 2013 through the merger of several existing organizations. These included the Tiger Leap Foundation, the Estonian Education and Research Network (EENet), and the Estonian Information Technology Foundation. By combining these entities, Estonia created a centralized organization capable of coordinating and implementing its educational technology initiatives more effectively.

HITSA was set up as a non-profit association, with its founding members including the Republic of Estonia, the University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Eesti Telekom, and the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications. This diverse group of stakeholders ensured that HITSA could leverage expertise from both the public and private sectors, as well as from academia.

The creation of HITSA reflected Estonia's commitment to maintaining its position as a leader in digital education. By consolidating resources and expertise under one roof, HITSA was better equipped to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for integrating technology into all levels of education, from primary schools to universities.

HITSA's establishment also aligned with Estonia's broader e-governance initiatives. The country had already made significant strides in digitizing public services, and HITSA's creation ensured that the education sector would keep pace with these advancements. This holistic approach to digital transformation has been a key factor in Estonia's reputation as one of the world's most advanced digital societies.

What impact has been measured?

The ProgeTiger program, launched by HITSA in 2012, was assessed to have a positive impact. This initiative introduced programming and robotics in public schools and later expanded to cover engineering sciences, design & technology, and ICT5. By 2019, the program had reached 85% of schools and 44% of kindergartens in Estonia, supplying equipment worth over 830,000 Euros and training more than 4,100 teachers. 

What lessons can be learned?

HITSA's activities were transferred to the Education and Youth Board of Estonia (Haridus- ja Noorteamet, or Harno) on August 1, 2020. This transition was part of a broader reorganization of educational institutions in Estonia.

The primary reason for this transfer was to streamline and consolidate educational services under a single government agency. The Education and Youth Board (Harno) was established as a new national authority responsible for implementing Estonian education and youth policy. By integrating HITSA's functions into this new board, the Estonian government aimed to create a more cohesive and efficient approach to managing educational technology initiatives and digital education strategies.

This reorganization allowed for better coordination of various national educational technology programs, such as the IT Academy program and the ProgeTiger program, which were previously managed by HITSA. The move also aligned with Estonia's broader digital strategy, including the 2030 Digital Society Development Plan, which outlines the country's goals for digital development across all sectors, including education.

CURATED BY

Simona Bielli

Research Programme Coordinator – Digital Startups
Nesta
United Kingdom