Yrjo Ojasaar is an internationally successful entrepreneur, consultant, negotiator, and an occasional angel investor. He is also a valued teacher in our master’s programme entitled Design and Development of Virtual Environments. Yrjo gave a quick online interview with his initial reflections on the MIT Global Startup Workshop that is taking place in Tallinn this week, the upcoming disruption in global education, constituents of good entrepreneurial education, and start-ups.
@yrjo Good afternoon, Yrjo! You'll be leading a panel discussion at the MITGlobal Startup Workshop today - what to expect from this event?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity @MIT has given us over 20 Nobel laureates and startups that employ over 3 million people - so expect a lot 😉
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity great insights about entrepreneurship, exciting new ideas and motivation to take businesses global
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo We'd be very interested in some Nobel laureates, too 😉 Do you know if many Estonian startups are taking part?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity there were several startup founders at the welcome MIT reception sponsored by US embassy & I have seen familar faces today
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity great interview with@ClayChristensen http://t.co/4yO9uAJhQq: why 50% of Universities will be gone within 15 years
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity Khan Academy and others are creating tremendous innovation in this niche
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo So these changes in #education are related to the massive open online courses? #MOOC
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity absolutely, that model is showing how online education can in fact be far superior to classroom teaching
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity it is also democratizing education, so Ivy League quality can be within reach of anyone and everyone
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity traditional education will be revolutionized adding practical and entrepreneurial experiences, & much better instruction
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity why listen to ur local out of date prof, if you can learn from the best in the world (+ rewind, comment, share, etc)?
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo You are teaching in our Master's programme: Design& Development of Virtual Environments (@DDVE). How is #MOOC affecting it?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity integration of best of breed teaching + visuals + exercises is a must to stay relevant
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo If we talk about @DDVE, then what are these virtual environments? Please bring some examples.
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity from @amazon, @itunes, down to any internet based community and business
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo And what skills do you need to build such virtual environments?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity interdisciplinary skills are key - understanding the psychology of users, design, and business modeling are all important
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity another key aspect is working with international teams across time zones and cultures
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity coding is just one of element, to be successful you have to approach this like field a decathlon
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity you have to be good at many things to succeed internationally, technical part is only 1 aspect
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo Is it best to learn everything yourself, or should you rather invest in teamwork?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity softball Q 😉 Team is everything - I dont know a singe person, no matter how capable who could pull off 1man show for long
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo Ok 🙂 So all the viable skills that you mentioned - you & your colleagues are teaching them @DDVE?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity @DDVE is a super program taught by people who are tops in their field, so lessons are über practical and entrepreneurial
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@TartuUniversity but come check out for yourself - our lessons are open - stop by @Tehnopol in Tallinn
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
See also what first-year student Himshwet Gaurav thinks about the master’s programme: Design and Development of Virtual Environments:
After a break in the MIT Global Startup Workshop, Yrjo answered a few more questions:
@yrjo Are technological startups mostly for very young people - the generationthat grew up with the Internet, computer games, gadgets?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity average age of gamer 37 game buyer 41 - so tech startups are relevant for everyone http://t.co/Dz81Uuaa22
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo This weekend a #Garage48 event Tallinn Music 2013 was taking place. Thereseem to be plenty of startup events? Can there be too many?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity Max# people should get a taste of entrepreneurship, we are entering the age of #freeagents 4us lifetime employment =myth
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo What do you think about the saying that coding is becoming the new Latin?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity & world is becoming the new #Rome, our lives r fundamentally affected by code daily we should at least speak a few words
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
@yrjo And finally, coming back to the disruption in education - how will it be affecting Estonian universities & their programmes in Est-n?
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu
@TartuUniversity triumph/disaster -depending on how open the leadership is in seizing the opportunities that revolutions present
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar
