Audit of the LAB University of Applied Sciences

FINEEC conducts an audit of the LAB University of Applied Sciences. A two-day audit visit at the LAB University of Applied of Sciences is carried out during 15-16 May 2024. The audit report is to be published on FINEEC’s digital audit platform in September 2024.

The audit is conducted by the following audit team:

• President, CEO Jaakko Hallila, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (chair)
• Student Isabella Lindberg, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
• Senior Research Scientist Liisa Postareff, Häme University of Applied Sciences
• Program Director Petri Räsänen, Business Tampere.

The purpose of the audit is

• to evaluate whether the quality work in the HEI meets the European quality assurance standards,
• to assess whether the quality system produces relevant information for the implementation of the strategy and the continuous development of the HEI's activities, and whether it results in effective enhancement activities,
• to encourage internationalisation, experimenting and a creative atmosphere at HEIs, and
• to accumulate open and transparent information on quality work at Finnish HEIs.

The focus of the audit is on the procedures used by the HEI to maintain and enhance the quality of its activities.

The FINEEC audits cover all the core duties of the HEI, that is, education, research/RDI and societal engagement. The strategic development of HEIs is supported in the audit by offering HEIs the possibility to select one of the evaluation areas. The LAB University of Applied Sciences has chosen as one of the evaluation areas the support for demanding innovation activities.

Benchlearning is one of the methods applied in the audits. The benchlearning partner of the LAB University of Applied Sciences is Avans University of Applied Sciences and the benchlearning target is student wellbeing.

The enhancement-led approach is applied in the audits. The goal of enhancement-led evaluation is to involve staff, students, and stakeholders of a higher education institution (HEI) in recognising strengths, good practices and enhancement areas in the HEI’s activities. The aim is also to support HEIs in achieving their own objectives, thus creating a premise for the continuous development of HEIs.