Ambitious computer science students were recognized with Playtech scholarships

The technology company Playtech established the scholarship through the University of Tartu Foundation to support the studies and professional development of outstanding computer science students at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Computer Science. The company was motivated to create the scholarship by a desire to invest in the next generation of specialists and, in doing so, contribute to the sustainable development of the technology sector.

When evaluating applicants, a four-member committee comprising representatives from Playtech and the Institute of Computer Science considered academic performance, motivation, and achievements to date. The six strongest candidates were invited to an interview, based on which the committee determined the final ranking.

One of the scholarship recipients was Muhammad Haris Irfan, a second-year master’s student in computer science. He views the award as recognition of his dedication to both his studies and his work as a software engineer. "I’m grateful for the support, which will help me advance my research in distributed computing at the University of Tartu and bring me closer to my dream of pursuing a PhD," said Irfan. The committee recognized Irfan’s excellent academic performance, his ambition to pursue further studies, and his strong professional experience in software engineering.

The second scholarship was awarded to Hendrik Jaks, a third-year bachelor’s student of computer science, who plans to use the funding to pursue a master’s degree at a university abroad. "The Playtech scholarship confirms that the work I have done so far has been on the right track. The scholarship supports my master’s studies abroad and enables me to bring new knowledge back to Estonia," said Jaks. The committee highly valued Jaks’s clear future plans, strong motivation to work in his chosen field, and excellent academic results.

The University of Tartu Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to Playtech for establishing the scholarship, as the need for student financial support remains a pressing issue that private funding can help alleviate. It also offers the company an excellent opportunity to connect with potential future employees.

The Playtech scholarships were ceremoniously presented on 1 October – during the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science Day – by Liina Pruulmann, a Playtech’s product manager and representative of the company's charity committee. The next scholarship competition will take place in the coming autumn semester.