Häme University of Applied Sciences passed FINEEC’s audit with excellent results – particular strengths include motivating atmosphere for studying and firmly rooted quality culture

The strengths of Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) include a strong student-centred approach and continuous improvement of teaching. HAMK’s solid quality management is firmly rooted in institutional quality culture and fostered by various forms of quality dialogue and measures as well as a purposefully developed quality mindset within the entire institution.

Systematic and long-term development of its quality management is impregnated by a bold attitude and a clear strategy

HAMK has established a comprehensive quality management system to capture input from internal and external stakeholders for the institution’s further development with students having a strong voice in HAMK’s quality dialogue. Open communication ensures fairness, equality and transparency within HAMK’s work community. The staff feels well supported according to their needs and value the inspiring working atmosphere at HAMK that fosters their well-being, equality and personal development.

HAMK’s quality culture reinforced by the steady and long-term further development of its quality management is considerably impregnated by a bold attitude, a clear strategy with ambitious goals and “THE HAMK community”.

• HAMK’s Quality Management is firmly embedded into a quality framework of the pdca cycle; not only representing the quality cycle, but according to the audit team’s experiences, also standing for people and policy, dialogue and development, commitment and collaboration and ambitions and actions as proprium of the institution, says Eva Werner, the chair of the audit team and emerita professor from Austria.

The student-centred and workplace-oriented approach is an essential feature for HAMK

The strong voice of students and the flexibility of curricula creates a motivating atmosphere for studying at HAMK. The flexible concept of the study formats 8-16 day, 18-100 part-time and 24/7 accelerated studies gives students the opportunity to choose the location where to study as well as the time when to study, thus catering well to the life circumstances and needs of various groups of students.

HAMK is strongly linked to regional working life through close project-partnerships and networks and is thus well equipped to educate qualified workforce for the future, taking future skills into account in teaching.

A creative atmosphere and a spirit of innovation shape HAMK’s organisational culture

HAMK is successful in encouraging piloting, prototyping, and executing experimental activities. This spirit is well reflected in its organisational culture and demonstrated in HAMK’s Design Factory for example by long-term commitment to innovation, multi-disciplinarity, and design thinking. HAMK’S organisational culture is impregnated by a spirit of listening to clients and collaboration partners, of dialogues and co-creation and regular active interaction with stakeholders.

Alumni are increasingly seen as an important asset but could also be used more actively to create a sense of pride in the institution.

Students’ learning experiences inside and outside the campus

HAMK has made substantial efforts to bringing learning environments, research, development and innovation (RDI) projects and education together. The facilities at HAMK, such as the Design Factory, are a great resource for real-world learning experiences. However, the auditors emphasize that HAMK should take care of providing equal learning experiences, especially work placement and internship opportunities for all students – domestic and international – in all programmes, and formats.

As a result of the successful audit, the Häme University of Applied Sciences received a FINEEC quality label valid until 15 June 2028. By passing the audit, the university of applied sciences showed that its activities and quality system meet both the national criteria and the European quality assurance criteria for higher education institutions. The focus of the audit is on the procedures used by the HEI to maintain and enhance the quality of its educational provision, research and societal engagement and impact. The evaluation criteria applied in the audit are available in the FINEEC audit manual.

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

Further information:

• Eva Werner, emerita professor, the Chair of the Audit Team, +43 (0) 6767787526, ewernere52(at)gmail.com
• Marja-Liisa Saarilammi, Counsellor of Evaluation, the Audit Project Manager, 029 533 5528,
  marja-liisa.saarilammi(at)karvi.fi