For many, the programme has also become a stepping stone to an internship at ABB.
Student feedback shows that direct interaction with company professionals plays a crucial role in shaping career decisions. Anna-Maria Kolljakova, a student in TalTech’s Integrated Engineering programme, participated in the Masterclass last year and soon after secured an internship at ABB.
“My first encounters with ABB happened during my studies. In one presentation assignment, I had to talk about robotic arms and explored ABB’s solutions in more detail. After that, I started noticing ABB everywhere and it always made me smile. When I saw the email about the lecture series and learned that it often leads to internships at ABB, I knew immediately that I had to apply,” she says.
According to Anna-Maria, all the lectures were insightful, but product life-cycle management stood out the most, as it is relevant to virtually any product. She was also surprised to learn that ABB’s manufacturing is not fully automated. “The reason actually makes perfect sense,” she explains. “The product portfolio is highly diverse, which makes full automation both complex and economically inefficient.”
According to programme coordinator Emili Järve, participant feedback has consistently been positive. The course is described as practical, well-structured and broadening students’ perspectives. “Over the years, several participants have gone on to complete internships at ABB and later joined the company full-time. That is why the Masterclass is seen not just as an academic course, but as a real bridge between university studies and a large industrial enterprise, a place where first professional contacts are made and where students begin to understand what an international engineering career can look like,” Emili explains.
The lectures are delivered by ABB experts, some of whom have been involved in the programme throughout its eight-year history. Over time, both the format and the content have evolved. The Masterclass has been organised in different forms and at multiple schools, and its scope has expanded to include topics such as supply chain management. For the lecturers themselves, the programme has provided valuable public speaking experience and a new perspective on the responsibility and workload behind teaching.
This year’s ABB Engineering Masterclass begins on 12 February with an introductory session by Jenni Eloranta, Drives Business Unit Manager. The programme consists of twelve lectures covering both engineering and business topics, including product development, project management, energy efficiency, supply chain management, industrial and production management, life-cycle management, and reliability engineering.
The course is delivered in a hybrid format, combining on-site sessions with online lectures. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit ABB’s units in Estonia to see engineers and production teams at work firsthand.
Lecture schedule:
| 12.02 | “Introduction” – Jenni Eloranta |
| 19.02 | “Voice of the Customer” – Jukka Patrikainen |
| 26.02 | “New Product Development” – Jaanus Karu |
| 05.03 | “Project Management” – Ingvar-Ivar Meesak |
| 12.03 | “Electrical Design & Energy Efficiency” – Oleg Kudrjavtsev |
| 19.03 | “Supply Chain Management” – Tarmo Tamm |
| 26.03 | “Mechanical Engineering” – Siim Kaur and Tarmo Kaisla |
| 02.04 | “Industrial Engineering” – Ozan Sagir |
| 09.04 | “L6S / Continuous Improvement in Production” – Tõnis Sahk |
| 16.04 | “Production Management” – Alari Roosipuu |
| 23.04 | “Life-cycle Management” – Vitali Boiko |
| 30.04 | “Reliability Engineering & Failure Analysis” – Risto Rosin |
