When Estonia regained independence in the early 1990s, its economy was in flux. The country was moving rapidly from a socialist system into the unpredictable, high-speed world of open markets. At that critical juncture, one man – Ülo Pärnits – saw a gap that urgently needed filling. Estonia had bright people, hunger for opportunity, and courage to reinvent itself. What it lacked was a system to teach applied business skills that were relevant to this new reality.
Ülo Pärnits, a forward-thinking entrepreneur and the mastermind behind Ülemiste City, envisioned an institution that could bridge this gap. In 1992, he founded what would become Eesti Ettevõtluskõrgkool Mainor (EEK Mainor), or the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences. It was built not as a traditional ivory-tower university, but as a place where theory met practice, where students learned how to survive and thrive in the new economy.
Its roots, however, were already in motion. Back in the 1980s, Mainor Business School had delivered executive training programs that earned national recognition. Those early programs, practical in nature and unapologetically focused on results, foreshadowed what EEK Mainor would become: a university designed to shape entrepreneurial thinkers who could adapt, lead, and innovate.
Today, more than three decades later, that founding principle remains unchanged. The university continues to prepare students not only for jobs, but for building futures. It has become the largest and fully accredited private university of applied sciences in Estonia, trusted as a catalyst for growth and innovation.
Anchored in Ülemiste City
Location matters. And for EEK Mainor, being at the heart of Ülemiste City – the largest smart business city in the Baltics – has shaped much of its story. Ülemiste City is more than office buildings and startups. It is an ecosystem where more than 400 companies create solutions for the future.
“As EEK Mainor serves as the intellectual hub of Ülemiste City, the largest smart business city in the Baltics,” says Andrus Pedai, Rector. “We provide applied higher education and master’s level studies in Estonian, Russian, and English, with a strong focus on practical knowledge, entrepreneurship, and future-oriented skills aligned with labor market demands.”
This hub position means students aren’t learning in isolation. They walk out of classrooms into a city buzzing with businesses, ideas, and potential employers. Internships happen across the street. Guest lectures are delivered by startup founders or tech leaders whose offices are within walking distance. For students, it feels less like studying in a bubble and more like training for the real world in real time.
More Than a Motto: Capital for Life
Every institution has a motto, but for EEK Mainor, “Capital for Life!” is lived, not just displayed on banners.
Education here isn’t seen as a transaction, something that ends the moment a diploma is handed over. Instead, it is positioned as lifelong capital – knowledge, networks, and mindset that a student can draw upon throughout their career and life.
The mission aligns perfectly with this motto: “To shape an entrepreneurial way of thinking.” The idea is that entrepreneurship isn’t only about starting a company. It’s a way of approaching challenges, taking initiative, and finding creative solutions. Whether a graduate goes on to launch a startup, lead within an established company, or reinvent themselves midway through their career, the entrepreneurial mindset ensures they can adapt and thrive.
Innovation is in its DNA
Innovation isn’t a buzzword at EEK Mainor – it’s a way of working.
“We have consistently fostered innovation in education by advancing lifelong learning, entrepreneurial thinking, and creativity across all levels – from pre-vocational to graduate education,” shares Ly Hõbe, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. “Through strategic collaborations, we offer flexible, evidence-based upskilling programs and consultations that strengthen the innovation capacity of Estonian and international companies.”
That commitment is visible in multiple ways:
- Designing programs that respond directly to labor market needs.
- Partnering with companies to co-create curricula.
- Encouraging students to apply classroom concepts to real business problems.
Perhaps the boldest innovation has been the Clevon Academy, Estonia’s first corporate university. Partnering with AS Clevon, a pioneering smart technology firm, EEK Mainor developed a workplace-based learning model that leads to an accredited academic degree.
“This tailor-made corporate university was designed around the company’s specific goals,” Vice-Rector Hõbe says. “The curriculum was co-created with Clevon to ensure alignment with job-specific competencies. Students acquired the exact knowledge and skills needed to meet business objectives while gaining real-world experience through integrated, work-based learning.”
The model turned heads not only in Estonia but even in Japan. It demonstrated how higher education could step outside its traditional structures and become a direct partner in solving industry’s skills shortages. Recognition soon followed, with awards for Estonian Educational Act of the Year 2020 and Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications Act of the Year 2020.
What Sets EEK Mainor Apart
There’s no shortage of business programs across the world. So why does EEK Mainor stand out? The answer lies in its mix of content, approach, and culture.
Vice-Rector Hõbe shares: “The Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences (EEK Mainor) is guided by its motto, ‘Capital for Life!’, and its mission to foster an entrepreneurial mindset. To fulfill this mission, we teach all core business processes – from talent management, marketing, and financial management to international logistics, quality management, and IT disciplines, including software development, web technologies, and IT management.”
“We have consistently fostered innovation in education by advancing lifelong learning, entrepreneurial thinking, and creativity across all levels.”
”What makes this different is not just what is taught, but how it is taught. Faculty members are a blend of academics and practitioners. They bring theory but also the scars, stories, and successes from running businesses themselves.
Our teaching staff combines academic theory with real-world business experience, bringing together experienced practitioners and entrepreneurial theorists who support and guide our students throughout their studies,” enthuses Vice-Rector Hõbe.
For students, this means classes are grounded in reality. A lecture on logistics may be given by someone who has navigated global supply chains. A session on software development may be led by a developer with startup experience. This interplay between theory and practice makes the learning richer, more memorable, and more applicable.
Programs That Open Doors
The university offers applied bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, entrepreneurship, and ICT. But it isn’t simply about earning a qualification. It’s about entering a community of doers.
“What makes us stand out is our practical, future-oriented approach: students learn by doing, often in collaboration with companies,” Rector Pedai explains. “Whether you’re launching a startup, leading a team, or pivoting your career – we provide the tools, mindset, and network to make it happen.”
Programs are delivered in three languages – Estonian, English, and Russian – reflecting the university’s international character. The result is a culturally diverse classroom where ideas are exchanged across borders and students build networks that extend far beyond Estonia.
Recognition That Matters
Awards don’t define an institution, but they do reflect impact. For EEK Mainor, recognition such as the Estonian Educational Act of the Year 2020 and the IT and Telecommunications Act of the Year 2020 validate its pioneering role in reshaping higher education.
They show that when the university claims to innovate, it backs it up with tangible results – models that solve real-world problems, curricula that directly serve companies, and graduates who are ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
Values That Guide
Values are often written on walls and forgotten. At EEK Mainor, they are lived daily:
- Responsible and caring – students are treated as individuals, not numbers.
- Science-based and entrepreneurial – research meets real-world application.
- Innovative and open – ideas are welcomed, tested, and implemented.
These values shape decisions large and small, from the way partnerships are structured to how faculty engage with students.
Looking Ahead: A Global Vision
The university is not standing still. Its ambitions are as bold as ever.
“EEK Mainor envisions becoming a recognized academic university, advancing research and science, and introducing doctoral studies as a natural next step in its academic development,” Vice-Rector Hõbe says. “Looking ahead, we are committed to deepening internationalization in both teaching and learning – creating a truly global, future-ready learning environment. Our long-term ambition is to establish ourselves as the Center of Excellence within Ülemiste Smart City, contributing thought leadership, talent development, and innovation to one of the most forward-looking business campuses in the Baltics.”
This means more than expanding degree programs. It means becoming a true center of excellence – fueling innovation, attracting talent, and contributing ideas that shape the future of education in Europe and beyond.
Building Capital That Lasts
At its heart, EEK Mainor is about people. It’s about a young graduate who launches a startup with confidence because she’s been trained to think like an entrepreneur. It’s about a mid-career professional who pivots into tech because the university gave him practical ICT skills. It’s about companies finding the talent they need because education has been tailored to their sector.
It started with one visionary founder, Ülo Pärnits, who believed Estonia needed a new kind of education. Today, it’s a thriving, international university shaping lives and industries. Tomorrow, it will continue to serve as capital for life – for students, for Estonia, and for the world.
