The University of Vaasa has diverse cooperation with the industry in the region - University of Vaasa passed FINEEC audit

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The University of Vaasa (UVA) passed the audit conducted by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). The university received praise from the audit team for diverse and vibrant cooperation with the industry in the region. The university benefits from the strong industry and work communities in the area. UVA provides excellent support services regarding student well-being and welcoming international students. 

The University of Vaasa's study programmes are planned and implemented with the participation of key stakeholders

The University of Vaasa (UVA) delivers practice and research-based education jointly co-created by students, staff and external stakeholders. Planning and implementation of the University of Vaasa’s degree programmes are transparently organised with the involvement of relevant stakeholders. However, UVA should strengthen the role of its external stakeholders in the development of the portfolio of study programmes. Student feedback at UVA is appropriately collected and well processed for quality of education. UVA has established functional feedback practices and systems to support continuous learning and the management of the portfolio of study programmes.

The UVA aims to increase the number of international students. UVA provides excellent support services as regards student well-being and welcoming international students. UVA should strengthen the involvement of international students in decision-making. The audit team paid attention to the content of the curricula and syllabus and formulation of the intended learning outcomes.

UVA should monitor and update study programmes continuously to ensure that intended learning outcomes and assessment methods are aligned, says the chair of the audit team, Professor Tatjana Volkova from Latvia.

Audit team also recommends, that the academic faculty should be encouraged to utilise more pedagogical innovations for teaching and learning. 

UVA has diverse and vibrant cooperation with the industry in the region 

UVA's diverse and vibrant cooperation with industry in the region is based on ecosystem thinking and regional heritage. The university benefits from the strong industry and work communities in the area. External stakeholders are involved in UVA’s activities at many levels. UVA’s research work is well connected to industry and society. Greater involvement of small and medium-size enterprises would broaden UVA’s societal engagement and impact.

The audit team recommends that UVA strengthen the systematic use of quantitative and qualitative metrics to monitor and enhance its societal engagement and impact in the short and long term. Indicators for societal engagement and impact should be more integrated with other quality management system indicators and with the UVA Strategy 2030.

The quality system could be further developed

The active participation of staff in quality assurance activities demonstrates a high level of commitment to further improving UVA's activities. The University of Vaasa carries out international degree programme accreditations, and a wide range of quality work in which staff, students and external stakeholders can participate. However, UVA should adopt a more systemic, systematic and strategic approach to enhancing the overall quality management system. UVA should build a shared understanding of the meaning of quality, set strategic quality goals and monitor progress towards them regularly. 

The University of Vaasa passed the audit conducted by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) and was awarded a quality label valid for six years. Passing the audit shows that the University of Vaasa’s activities and quality system meet both the national criteria and the European quality assurance criteria for higher education institutions. The audit focuses on higher education institutions’ procedures for maintaining and enhancing the quality of education, research, and societal engagement and impact. The audit criteria have been published in FINEEC's Audit manual for higher education institutions. The audits of higher education institutions’ quality systems were launched in Finland in 2005. 

The audit report is available on FINEEC’s audit platform.

Further information

  • Tatjana Volkova, Professor, Chair of the audit team, tatjana.volkova(at)ba.lv
  • Mira Huusko, Evaluation Counsellor, Project manager of the audit, +358 29 533 5565, mira.huusko(at)karvi.fi