Estonian official: Today's international students are tomorrow's strategic partners

TALLINN - While some politicians in Estonia have described higher education institutions as "migration pumps," the vision document Study in Estonia 2030, prepared under the auspices of the Estonian Education and Youth Board, stresses that Estonia's development as a destination country for international mobility is indispensable and that the involvement of foreign students demonstrates trust in Estonia.

The author and compiler of the vision document, Eero Loonurm, says the document was developed in collaboration with Estonian universities and sectoral partners.

"Internationalization of higher education and international students studying in Estonia are not merely educational policy issues -- they are also directly connected to Estonia's foreign relations, openness, and trustworthiness," Loonurm, head of Study in Estonia, said in a press release. "Every international student who chooses Estonia is making a decision of trust. The connections they form through studies, work, and life experiences contribute to Estonia's visibility and credibility."

He said alumni who have studied in Estonia and understand our way of living become valuable contacts and cooperation partners in the future. While today international students contribute to the Estonian economy by founding businesses here and working in high value-added sectors, in the future, alumni can serve as a form of soft power, strategically supporting Estonia's foreign policy goals.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 3,954 international degree students from 120 countries were enrolled in Estonian higher education institutions, making up 8.7 percent of the total student population. According to a study published by Statistics Estonia in 2024, international students and alumni working in Estonia generated over 23 million euros in tax revenue for the government. Approximately 50 percent of international students stay in Estonia after graduation, mostly working in ICT, engineering, and healthcare sectors. Ninety-five percent of international students cite career prospects as their main motivation for studying in Estonia, according to a study by Study in Estonia in 2023.

"If we do not create a thoughtful and trustworthy pathway from education to working life, Estonia risks falling behind countries where education policy and workforce strategies are more clearly aligned," Loonurm added.

The global competition for educated and motivated young people is intensifying, yet the number of international students is also growing -- forecasts predict that the number of internationally mobile students will exceed nine million by 2030. International students are becoming a vital resource for countries aiming to attract talent, strengthen their labor markets, and expand their global influence.

"The more people there are in the world who have lived, studied, and understood Estonia, the more reliable allies and partners Estonia will have in the future -- people who will stand by us even in a changing world," Loonurm said.

Study in Estonia 2030 outlines Estonia's key target markets, opportunities, and strategic directions to shape Estonia into a trustworthy and collaborative destination country in international higher education.