EBS Graduation Ceremony 2026: 198 New Alumni Ready to Shape the Future
The EBS graduation ceremony took place on 18 June 2026 at the Estonia Concert Hall.
This year's graduating class includes 198 graduates: 164 bachelor's degree graduates, 33 master's degree graduates, and one doctoral graduate.
A total of 20 bachelor's and 9 master's students graduated cum laude.
EBS graduates are known for their entrepreneurial mindset, international outlook, and readiness to take responsibility both within organisations and in society at large. This year's graduating class reflects these values well, bringing together students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ambitions.
Lifelong Learning and International Experience
Meelis Kitsing, Rector of EBS, emphasized that the graduation ceremony marks not only the completion of a degree but also the completion of an important journey. He highlighted the diversity of this year's graduating class and stressed that learning and personal development are not defined by age or life stage. Graduates from 12 different nationalities are represented in this year's class.
Our two youngest graduates are 20 years old, while our two most experienced graduates are 57 and 59. Some of you came to EBS directly after finishing school, while others combined your studies with careers, family life, and decades of professional experience. This diversity is not accidental. It is what makes EBS, EBS. Learning has no expiration date, and you are a wonderful example of what lifelong learning looks like in practice.
Meelis Kitsing
Rector of Estonian Business School
This year's graduates represent a wide range of life paths and professional backgrounds. Many returned to higher education after a longer break, demonstrating that it is never too late to acquire new knowledge and invest in personal growth.
The Rector also stressed the importance of international experience in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. According to Kitsing, organisations and societies need leaders who can navigate uncertainty, collaborate across cultures and communities, and identify opportunities in a rapidly changing environment.
An international dimension has been an important part of the academic journey of this year's graduates. In total, 62 graduates studied abroad during their exchange studies, gaining experience at 26 partner universities across 16 countries while applying the knowledge acquired at EBS in an international environment.
Ready for Change, Ready to Deliver
Mart Habakuk, Chancellor of EBS, focused on three themes: readiness for change, focus on results and keeping promises.
Habakuk thanked graduates' families, friends, colleagues and everyone else who supported them throughout their studies. According to him, while only one name appears on a diploma, every achievement is supported by many people behind the scenes.
The world and the expectations around us have changed. EBS's ambition is to prepare graduates who are ready for change. For me, this means that when something unexpected happens, you do not freeze or focus on why the situation is unfair. You learn, you think, and you move forward. Readiness for change is not built through theory alone but through practice. Every deadline, every difficult project, every unclear assignment, and every challenge has been training.
Mart Habakuk
Chancellor of Estonian Business School
Habakuk also stressed that knowledge alone is not enough. In his view, the world changes not because of good ideas, but because people take action. Therefore, it is essential to focus on results and taking responsibility.
"One of the strongest competitive advantages a person can have is very simple: keep your promises. In business, trust is built when promises are kept. Your reputation will not be built on what you intended to do, but on what people could rely on you to do. Therefore, choose your next ambitious promises wisely, grow into them, and keep them proudly."
According to Habakuk, EBS aims to foster an entrepreneurial community where learning goes hand in hand with creating, experimenting, and contributing to society, and where responsibility and delivering results are highly valued.
Messages for the Future from Graduates and Alumni
Traditionally, representatives of both graduates and alumni also addressed the audience. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Martin Višnevski, a graduate of the Bachelor's programme in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration, encouraged fellow graduates to apply the knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset gained at EBS immediately after graduation.
According to Višnevski, graduates are currently at the peak of something very valuable: their creativity, initiative, and belief that they can build something meaningful. He highlighted that EBS has been a place where students are surrounded by people who ask questions, challenge conventional solutions, and believe that things can be done differently.
He noted that the greatest challenge after graduation is to maintain this momentum and not wait for the perfect moment, idea, or resources. EBS has helped graduates reach this point, he said, but the next steps and future success now depend on their own actions.
Representing the alumni community, EBS alumna Merle Antson shared her experience of how success does not always follow a straight career path. She spoke openly about how life did not always unfold as expected and how diverse experiences and the courage to try new things ultimately helped her reach where she is today.
In her address, Antson encouraged graduates not to measure their success against others, but to remain curious, stay open to new opportunities, and trust their own choices even when not all the answers are yet known.
EBS wishes all graduates success, entrepreneurial spirit, and courage in achieving their future goals and welcomes them to the global EBS alumni community.
Photos: Andrei Ozdoba