ESTDEV scholarship programmes support partner countries' sustainable development goals

Previously organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and now by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), these scholarship programmes make the high-quality education offered in Estonia more accessible to students from development cooperation partner countries. They give them the opportunity to complete graduate studies or further education in fields supporting the development goals of their home countries. 

Over the years, all major Estonian universities and other institutions offering higher education or further education, such as MTÜ Tuleviku Tehnoloogaiaridus (kood/Jõhvi), the Estonian Business School and the Estonian School of Diplomacy, have received scholarship funds. The fields of study qualified to receive scholarship students have been selected according to the needs of the partner country while considering Estonia's strengths. Therefore, most students come here to study e-governance and IT, entrepreneurship, educational management and innovation, social sciences, diplomacy and European Union integration. This focus contributes to the formation of stable, EU-aligned partner countries while also advancing Estonian security and economic interests. 

A good reputation abroad generates interest in studying in Estonia 

One such programme is the Estonian School of Diplomacy's (EDK) continuing education program "International Relations and Diplomacy", which has improved the knowledge of the foundations of international relations of diplomats and officials from Estonia's development cooperation partner countries for years. The Foreign Ministries of Finland, Sweden and the USA have also provided funding for the scholarship programme in addition to the funds allocated by Estonia. 

“Every year, our students have formed a cohesive group that learns from each other. Although everyone has different backgrounds, the biggest advantage of such collectives is the constant improvement and feeling of camaraderie,” said EDK Director Ekke Nõmm. 

Often, people apply to scholarship programmes through work-related referrals, but in some cases, interest can also arise as a result of outstanding Estonian foreign policy. This is what happened with Stephen Kimoita, who graduated from the programme in 2025 and works as a senior foreign service officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya. 

“In 2022, President Kersti Kaljulaid visited Kenya, who was very good at marketing Estonia. Your country’s public diplomacy left a very good impression, and that’s how I became interested. I read that you are very experienced in the digital field and that things like Skype and Bolt were created by Estonians. I was also impressed by your e-governance system,” said Kimoita. 

Studying in Estonia broadens students’ horizons  

Regardless of how and why people join scholarship programmes, what matters most is what they learn while they’re in Estonia and what they take back home after the programme. According to Olha Uzbek, an adviser at the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine who joined the programme last autumn, studying in Estonia has helped her understand the importance of different perspectives.   

"For me, direct communication with people from different countries is important. You can learn so much simply by listening to others, exchanging views and trying to understand different perspectives. It has made me appreciate how their viewpoints have developed, why people may see the same issue differently and how such dialogue helps to find common ground. Building trust leads to effective cooperation and will help me in future negotiation processes," Uzbek said.   

“At first, I was very green in the field of international negotiations, but practical simulation exercises and group work allowed me to hear and understand other people's thoughts. Every day I learned new topics and things,” Kimoita said, expressing a similar opinion. 

According to Uzbek, postcolonialism was also a surprisingly interesting topic, as it helped her understand how the legacy of colonialism and imperialism has shaped states, institutions and identities. “It helped me better understand how Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries have reached the situation they are in today,” she said. 

Kimoita found Estonians’ efficiency in completing tasks remarkable. “I learned to understand what efficiency means, how Estonians value time and completing tasks on time. It was also eye-opening to experience different cultures,” he said. 

Education is one of the most important drivers of reform 

According to Kristi Kulu, ESTDEV’s programme manager for Education, education is not an end in and of itself for development cooperation.  

“We do not invest in education just for the sake of education. Through education, we support people and institutions in partner countries who drive democratic reforms, strengthen public administration and create the conditions for economic development,” Kulu said. “When people come to study in Estonia and return to their country with new knowledge, skills and contacts, they start to change. They also work more broadly in the organisations and systems in which they operate. That is why we are increasingly consciously linking scholarship activities to specific projects and national reform priorities, so that the impact of education does not remain at the individual level but supports long-term, sustainable change.”  

From 2026 onwards, the principles for awarding scholarships have changed, and there will no longer be a separate scholarship application round. Scholarship activities can instead be planned within the framework of calls targeting Ukraine and African countries; other development cooperation calls will not include scholarship activities. This approach ensures a stronger link between scholarships, the needs of the partner country and specific project goals. It also helps avoid fragmentation between different activities within a single partner country, thereby increasing the overall impact of projects. 

Development cooperation and education work together to promote a positive image of Estonia, which also supports Estonia’s economic interests. Thanks to consistent educational cooperation, Estonia has good recognition and credibility abroad, which in turn, makes it easier for Estonian companies to enter local markets and international consortia. Thus, development cooperation through education and scholarships simultaneously boosts security and economic growth.