The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) has conducted an audit of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and has awarded it a quality label that is valid for six years from 24 February 2017. The quality system of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences fulfils the criteria for the quality management of higher education institutions and corresponds to the European principles and recommendations.
The international audit team applauds Metropolia’s clear goals, targets, indicators, structures, systems and resources for developing quality in the university of applied sciences (UAS). The quality management responsibility is widely shared in the organisation and the commitment to the continuous development work is evident.
“There has been significant progress in Metropolia’s quality work since the last audit in 2011 and the clarity of the quality system and its focus and connection to the strategy and core activities have been significantly strengthened”, Professor Emeritus Ian Pirie, the chair of the audit team, states.
Reaching the goals of education, research, development and innovation activities as well as societal impact and regional development activities is followed systematically. Of note is the development of predictive modelling and planning for the future and the online-tools for quality management.
Collaborative projects carried out by students with the working life are a strength
The freely selected audit target chosen by the university of applied sciences was Metropolia’s innovation projects, MINNO©. Every student in Metropolia takes part in a 10 ECTS innovation project that is carried out in collaboration with the working life partners. The learning takes place in multidisciplinary teams. According to the audit team the MINNO© concept is a clear asset that supports Metropolia in achieving its strategic goals.
The chair Ian Pirie summarises: ”The development areas highlight the challenges of a large organisation. The explicitly defined quality policy enables and supports structured development work to occur but the local implementation can vary to some extent. Especially for the students it is crucial that the Individual Learning Track (ILT) policy is equally understood everywhere in the UAS.”
Metropolia is encouraged to explicitly define the core quality processes that should be implemented consistently across the institution. Where there is a clear rationale and local need for variance of practice in different units, this should be supported but should also be formally approved and the adapted process recorded.
More information
The chair of the audit team, Professor Emeritus Ian Pirie, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, ian.pirie@ed.ac.uk
Senior Advisor Johanna Kolhinen, Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, johanna.kolhinen@karvi.fi +358 29 533 5534
Audit of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 2017
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