As part of the application to the AISS – Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies, applicants are required to submit a portfolio showcasing selected works that demonstrate their previous experience, skill set, and professional maturity.
Portfolio Requirements:
The portfolio must be submitted as a separate file and follow these rules:
Format & structure
- Up to 5 individual works
- Each work must include a brief description
- The selected works should clearly represent your strongest skills
- The portfolio must be understandable on its own, without requiring access to extra material
For each project, you must clearly explain:
- A short summary of the work
- Relevant background or context
- The skill set required
- Your personal contribution to the project
Important:
If you include links (for example, to GitHub or a website), do not update those pages after submitting your application. The selection committee cannot read books, listen to podcasts, or explore extensive materials.
Group Projects Are Welcome… Just Be Clear About Your Role
Your portfolio does not need to include only individual projects. Group or collaborative work is absolutely acceptable as long as your contribution is clearly explained.
If a project was developed with other people, make sure to specify:
- What you were responsible for
- Which parts you led, designed, coded, researched, or coordinated
- The skills you personally applied or developed
The selection committee is not evaluating team size, they are evaluating your role, decisions, and capabilities within a collaborative context.
Your Portfolio Doesn’t Have to Be “Only AI”
While AISS is a master’s programme focused on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies, your portfolio does not need to include AI projects. What matters most is:
- Your potential
- Your way of thinking
- How your past experiences connect to the programme’s values and direction
We strongly encourage applicants to:
- Read carefully about the programme’s mission and focus areas
- Select projects that help us understand who you are, what motivates you, and how you approach complex problems
Design, data, research, community work, sustainability initiatives, social innovation, or technical projects from other fields are all valid if you explain why they matter and how they relate to your trajectory.
Technical Tip from Our Student: Hakeem’s Advice
Hakeem, one of our students, shared how he approached the technical side of his portfolio:
Meet Hakeem Alavi
From: Kenya
Currently based in: Tallinn, Estonia
Role: Software Developer and AI Researcher
For my portfolio, I mostly used my GitHub projects, since I came from a coding background. I used them to justify my interest in sustainability. I chose the ones that I saw had an impact in the community sustainability-wise like my Cholera application
Hakeem approached his portfolio with a clear strategy: showing technical depth while grounding each project in real-world relevance.
Rather than including everything he had built, Hakeem carefully selected projects that:
- Demonstrated clear social or sustainability impact
- Reflected his technical skill set
- Showed how his work connects technology with community needs
This approach helped the selection committee quickly understand what he can do, why it matters, and how his background aligns with the AISS mission.
What You Can Learn from Hakeem’s Portfolio
- Your portfolio can be code-heavy if that reflects your background (but it is not mandatory)
- Community and sustainability impact are strong signals
- Clear explanations matter more than polished complexity
Your portfolio doesn’t need to be perfect! Choose the projects that best represent your skills, values, and potential.
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