Quality Label for Excellence awarded to Aalto University and Lapland University of Applied Sciences

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) has awarded Aalto University and Lapland University of Applied Sciences the Quality Label for Excellence in recognition of their exceptional quality in the development of their activities. Both higher education institutions have demonstrated an innovative pioneering spirit, an approach that focuses on long-term enhancement, and a participatory operational culture.

Aalto University’s societal and global responsibility and its strong future-led orientation impressed the evaluation panel

Aalto University has long-term and ambitious goals for societal impact. Three clear cross-cutting approaches and seven key research areas are visible in all activities, and they steer the choices made. With a continuous and living strategy process, Aalto University responds to changing societal challenges. The University has several examples of how it contributes to reforming society from different viewpoints. Societal engagement and impact are also supported by university-wide evaluation work.

− Aalto University stands out for its ability to cross boundaries in an open-minded manner, as demonstrated by its multidisciplinary approach, innovative degree programmes, and its commitment to societal impact. The principles and objectives of societal engagement and impact guide all Aalto University's activities, says the chair of the Excellence evaluation panel, Vice-rector Gunilla Widén from Åbo Akademi University.

Aalto University's strengths include a culture that encourages experimentation and the active involvement of stakeholders. Aalto’s approach to seeking innovations is both long-term and ambitious. Aalto is not afraid of taking risks. The University promotes entrepreneurship and innovation, for example by providing a platform where students, researchers and businesses can collaborate and create new solutions to global challenges. Aalto's incubators and accelerators support societal change in an excellent way.

According to the panel's assessment, Aalto University's strong emphasis on furthering internationalisation, work-life relations, business cooperation, entrepreneurial mindset and sustainable development in education are examples of good practices that have a positive impact outside of the University and cross boundaries in an open-minded manner. The development of Aalto University's educational activities is highly systematic, broadly participatory and impactful. The development of education is excellently linked to the strategic and operational management of the University.

− We greatly appreciate this Excellence recognition for our long-term quality work. Thanks are due to the entire Aalto University community doing valuable work for continuous development and impact of our operations, comments the President of Aalto University Ilkka Niemelä.

Lapland University of Applied Sciences as a driver of renewal and development for the vitality of Lapland impressed the evaluation panel

Lapland University of Applied Sciences emphasises foresight, cooperation and stakeholder engagement both regionally and internationally. Based on the needs of the region, the UAS has a strong identity and will to be actively engaged in various experiments and in the development of the region.

The strategy and objectives of Lapland University of Applied Sciences are development goals for education, research and innovation based on the needs of Lapland. The UAS has a very strong track record of involving stakeholders from the whole region in its activities. A strong ecosystem has been built around the UAS to renew and develop the Lapland region. Clusters of smart specialisations, strong network cooperation and partnership agreements are clearly geared towards the renewal of the region and the identification of future needs.

− Lapland University of Applied Sciences has recognised its central role and responsibility in strengthening the vitality of Lapland. To succeed in this, Lapland University of Applied Sciences has built strong ties and open-minded ways of working with strategically important actors in the region, Gunilla Widén points out.

The shared practices of the UAS have been developed in a long-standing, systematic way. The strategic choices of the UAS are based on the strategic priorities, phenomenon-based and require multidisciplinary activities. The strategic choices and related competence areas are promoted by launching new RDI openings, developing networks, considering the themes in the content of education and RDI, developing staff competences and renewing learning and development environments.

The open-minded organisational culture at Lapland University of Applied Sciences encourages experimentation and the organisation has been reformed and flattened to increase experimentation. The UAS has been very successful in developing a balance between the culture of experimentation and its core activities.

− The Quality Label for Excellence is a valuable reward for our long-term strategic development, us learning together and taking a creative approach in our higher education community, as well as our strong partnerships with work life, comments the Rector of Lapland University of Applied Sciences Riitta Rissanen. This recognition encourages us to further develop our impact and to continue to engage with society together with our students and staff, Rissanen continues.

Excellence evaluation and criteria

FINEEC awards the Quality Label for Excellence on an annual basis to higher education institutions audited by FINEEC. The purpose of the Quality Label for Excellence is to reward higher education institutions that have distinguished themselves with development and enhancement activities of exceptionally high quality. HEIs that have been granted the level excellent in at least one evaluation area in the audit process are candidates for the Quality Label for Excellence in the following year. The evaluation areas are HEI creates competence, HEI promotes impact and renewal, and HEI enhances quality and well-being. The assessment of Excellence is carried out by an evaluation panel appointed for this purpose, and the final decision on awarding the Quality Label for Excellence is made by the Higher Education Evaluation Committee. 

The Quality Label for Excellence awarded to the Aalto University covers all three evaluation areas. The Quality Label for Excellence awarded to Lapland University of Applied Sciences covers the evaluation area HEI promotes impact and renewal. The National Defence University was also a candidate in the evaluation areas HEI creates competence and HEI enhances quality and well-being. All three candidates’ enhancement work is at an excellent level. The Quality Label for Excellence has been previously granted in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The 2024 Quality Label for Excellence was awarded on 21 May 2024.

The principles, criteria and process of awarding the Quality Label for Excellence (PDF)

Further information:

• Chair of the evaluation panel, Vice-rector Gunilla Widén, Åbo Akademi University, gunilla.widen(at)abo.fi, tel. +358 2 215 31
• Counsellor of Evaluation Mirella Nordblad, FINEEC, mirella.nordblad(at)karvi.fi, tel. +358 29 533 5541