Never before has Estonia been so well-known in the world as now, a hundred years later. The reason is simple: we exist now, we are visible also in the international arena now, and we have been there for quite some time already. The international situation of recent years definitely raises existential questions for us again, but, despite that, the question \u201cto be or not to be?\u201d is beginning to be replaced by the question \u201chow to go on?\u201d.<\/p>\n
What the vision or big narrative of Estonia should be, was discussed in the \u201cRiigikogu Toimetised\u201d conversation circle with participation by representatives of all factions, as usual. A number of ideas were revealed in the conversation circle as to how a self-confident and wealthy nation could securely live here also in a hundred years\u2019 time. All participants in the conversation circle mentioned as an important aim that the Estonian people should be educated.<\/p>\n
This issue of \u201cRiigikogu Toimetised\u201d discusses the topic of the future of Estonia as the focus topic, and is more essayistic than usually. The writings keep in mind also a further time horizon, but in details they have mostly remained in the predictable future, the forthcoming decade.<\/p>\n
The focus topic is divided into three sub-fields: economy, population and education. First, as Estonia\u2019s wealth cannot lie in the prospect of being a merely raw material country, it is extremely important to engage in innovation in our economy, and Tea Danilov writes about that. She is seconded by Indrek Tammeaid, who discusses the problematics of product design which is an inseparable companion to innovation.<\/p>\n
Second, it is impossible to build up a state without people. It would certainly be the best if our birth rate increased, but Urmas Varblane and Rein Taagepera speak about immigration culture and economy. Leaving aside potential immigration, it is possible to make better use also of our existing labour force, and those over 45 need on no account be written off. Aimar Altosaar writes about social (labour force) innovation.<\/p>\n
Third, education and research could be a \u201cfool-proof\u201d field of investment. Andres Koppel and others study where Estonian science has reached in the past twenty five years, and where it might reach in 2051. In their opinion, research and development in Estonia could take more account of social and economic interests in the future.<\/p>\n
Two remaining remarkable writings are also directly related to the issue of education: \u201cThe Role of Regional Institutions of Higher Education in Local Development\u201d by Anne Keerberg, and the essay \u201cLocal Institution of Higher Education as the Best Regional Policy Tool\u201d by Garri Raagmaa. Anne Keerberg, who is the Director of Kuressaare College of Tallinn University of Technology, introduces the results of a relevant study, and Garri Raagmaa (who has been the Head of P\u00e4rnu College of the University of Tartu in the past) brings a number of practical examples of how taking institutions of higher education to problematic regions has been one of the most effective regional development measures of all.<\/p>\n
Space prohibits mentioning all articles, but in conclusion we will point out that, in cooperation of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu, the \u201cRiigikogu Toimetised\u201d editorial office and the Website Coordinator of the Public Relations Department of the Chancellery Kristi P\u00fc\u00fcmann, a new web environment of \u201cRiigikogu Toimetised\u201d has been launched now. This is not a thing in itself. The progress in user convenience can be compared to taking into use of certain new buses on a certain bus line in Estonia. The whole text corpus, starting from the first issue of \u201cRiigikogu Toimetised\u201d, is searchable with any keyword, and the environment is very conveniently navigable and, there is no denying it, simply looks beautiful!<\/p>\n