Committee for engineering education nominated again – wide range of competence from higher education, working life and students represented

News Higher education

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) has appointed a new Committee for Engineering Education for the period 2023–2026. The Committee offers an excellent opportunity to observe the accreditations of degree programmes in engineering and more widely the external evaluation of quality of higher education in engineering in Finland and internationally. FINEEC has implemented engineering programme accreditations since 2014 and the Committee decides on their outcomes. Twelve members representing universities of applied sciences, universities, working life and students were appointed to the Committee. During the Committee’s term, tasks such as the pilot evaluations conducted in universities in order to extend the activities in Finland will be completed.

The Committee for Engineering Education operates at FINECC under the Higher Education Evaluation Committee. All higher education institutions educating engineers in the fields of technology, information and communications technology, and telecommunications had the opportunity to propose candidates to the Committee. “Interest in the activities of the Committee and engineering programme accreditations is growing in Finnish higher education institutions,” says Kati Isoaho, Senior Evaluation Advisor responsible for accreditations at FINEEC.  In addition, candidates were requested from a few key stakeholders.

In the composition of the Committee, attention has been paid to both higher education sectors, coverage within the field of engineering, previous evaluation experience, experience in the management and development of degree programmes and pedagogical development, experience of RDI activities, and knowledge of working life and the daily work of students. In addition, the geographical coverage and gender equality have also been taken into account. The following persons were appointed to the Committee:

  • Harri Eskelinen, Associate Professor, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
  • Jari Iinatti, Professor, University of Oulu
  • Kia Kauppinen, Student in engineering, Tampere University of Applied Sciences
  • Vesa Kohtamäki, Head of Nokia Technology Center Espoo
  • Lassi Martikainen, Unit Director, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)
  • Juhani Nokela, Director of Public Relations, Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK
  • Raili Pönni, Head of Planning, Aalto University
  • Kim Roos, Senior Lecturer, Degree Programme Director, Arcada University of Applied Sciences
  • Riitta Tempakka, Unit Director, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK)
  • Karo Saharinen, Senior Lecturer, JAMK University of Applied Sciences
  • Sari Stenvall-Virtanen, Education Manager, University of Turku
  • Marleena Yli-Äyhö, Head of Study Services, Tampere University

The term of the Committee is 9 January 2023–30 November 2026. The Committee will elect the chair and the vice chair from its membership at its first meeting.

The engineering programme accreditation implemented by FINEEC is degree programme-specific evaluation aimed at the international EUR-ACE quality label. The aim of accreditation is to support the enhancement of quality in degree programmes in engineering and to increase the international comparability of Finnish higher education degrees in engineering and their recognition in working life. The task of the Committee is to adopt and develop a manual describing the criteria and procedures for programme evaluation in the field of engineering and develop it, decide on the outcomes of the accreditations, liaise with the ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education) which owns the trademark EUR-ACE (European Accredited Engineer), discuss questions related to the quality of higher education in engineering and, if necessary, make proposals to the Higher Education Evaluation Committee on developing quality management and evaluations in this field, and  report annually on evaluations conducted and its other activities to the Higher Education  Evaluation Committee.

Among other things, the tasks due during the new Committee’s term include the completion of the currently ongoing pilot evaluations in universities. FINEEC has implemented EUR-ACE accreditations in Finnish universities of applied sciences since 2014. Its aim is to extend the activities to permanently apply to universities as well.  This way, FINEEC will be able to serve the entire field of higher education more comprehensively and offer an opportunity for all degree programmes in engineering to enhance their teaching and obtain an international quality label. It is also possible that pilots on Master’s degree (UAS) will be launched during the Committee’s term.

Further information:

Kati Isoaho, Senior Evaluation Advisor, kati.isoaho@karvi.fi

More information on EUR-ACE accreditations on FINEEC’s website (linkki päivittyy)

Manual for Engineering Programme Accreditation on FINEEC’s website