Mait Kask: “Pursuing a PhD has brought me inner peace and a new way of thinking”

I am a Junior Research Fellow in Information Science at the Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu. In my doctoral research, I explore how the state of the future is imagined and represented in an era when more data is collected and used than ever before. I am particularly interested in the idea of the personalised state that can anticipate our needs and provide necessary services even before we know to ask for them.

At present, my research focuses on how this vision emerges in Estonia. I examine how it is articulated in policy documents and development strategies, why the idea appears so natural and inevitable, and how technological solutions are presented as caring, neutral and distinctly Estonian. We often speak about the digital state as though it were simply the product of technological progress. In reality, however, a great deal takes place between data, information systems and human needs.

Committing myself to doctoral studies has, in a sense, brought me inner peace as well as a shift in mindset. Leaving behind the routines of everyday professional life has required me to learn to live with questions that do not have immediate answers. At times, this can be unsettling, but it also creates an opportunity for genuine intellectual engagement and deep reflection – perhaps the most valuable aspect of the doctoral journey.

I cannot yet say where my doctoral studies will ultimately lead me, but I see my future at the intersection of research, teaching and the public sector. I want to contribute to discussions about the digital state in ways that place greater emphasis not only on technology, but also on people, care, responsibility and critical thinking.

I first studied Information Management at the University of Tartu and later continued my studies in the master’s programme in Change Management in Society. In recent years, I worked in the public sector in the fields of information governance, management and organisational development. My professional development has been shaped most significantly by my work at the Ministry of Education and Research and the Health Board, where I was involved in the development of information and records management, support services, and management systems. In the latter role, I gained first-hand experience of navigating organisational change and crisis situations. I am currently a Junior Research Fellow in Information Science at the University of Tartu and teach courses related to information governance and organisational management, seeking to bring together professional practice, teaching and research.

On 13 May, the Estonian Doctoral School – a joint initiative of all Estonian universities – celebrates European Doctoral Day. During a social media campaign from 11 to 17 May, doctoral researchers from across Estonia share their experiences, reflecting on the value of doctoral studies and the broader impact of research. The campaign highlights the opportunities offered by doctoral studies in Estonia and showcases diverse career paths in academia and beyond.

European Doctoral Day homepage: https://www.eurodocday.org/
Estonian Doctoral School homepage: https://www.doktorikool.ee/en/

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