Tampere University of Applied Sciences passed the FINEEC audit – its strengths include firm links with working life and students’ engagement in education development

Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) passed the audit conducted by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). TAMK is profiled in line with its strategic targets as a multidisciplinary working life-oriented higher education institution in which the education offered meets the needs of businesses and the changing working life. This lays a strong foundation for long-term development of the vitality of Pirkanmaa region.

The planning of education is a systematic and participatory process

The planning of education is a systematic and established practice throughout the organisation. Clear learning outcomes have been defined for the degree programmes. The curricula are developed based on the feedback received from working life and experiences gathered from cooperation with different actors. Teachers, students, RDI personnel and stakeholders participate actively in the planning, implementation, evaluation and development of the education.

– The quality management procedures for the planning and implementation of education provide excellent support for student-centred and work-based activities. At TAMK, continuous learning is considered an equal task in relation to degree education. The audit team suggests that in the future the quality management of degree education and continuous learning could be developed as a whole, says the chair of the audit team Turo Kilpeläinen, rector at LAB University of Applied Sciences.

Regional higher education network cooperation and active collaboration within the advisory boards support regional cooperation. This cooperation especially supports TAMK in identifying competence needs and developing degree education, which has been identified and recognised as TAMK’s strength.

TAMK’s working life orientation target is at the core of RDI activities

TAMK’s activities are focused on three phenomenon-based impact areas and the objectives of the research strategy of the Tampere higher education community. The emphasis of research, development and innovation activities (RDI) is on applied research, development and innovations that can be used in working life. The fields of RDI activities at TAMK are broad which at best enable multidisciplinary cooperation and encourage new and agile innovations. TAMK utilises feedback and experiences from teachers, students and stakeholders who have participated in RDI activities in development. In audit team’s view, the role of RDI activities as part of TAMK’s strategic development and annual planning process could still be strengthened.

TAMK’s operating culture encourages experimentation, sharing of ideas and co-development

TAMK has a well-functioning quality system in which information produced by the system is used in various ways at different levels of the organisation for a target-oriented improvement of activities. A simplification and prioritisation of quality management procedures would in audit team’s view further strengthen the steering effect of TAMK’s strategy.

TAMK’s operating culture encourages experimentation and cooperation with different actors.

– TAMK has internal forums aimed at different target groups to support innovative operational culture and sharing of ideas. TAMK is above all a highly competent and inspiring work community where the personnel pulls together and works in the best interests of the institution, says Turo Kilpeläinen.

TAMK chose higher education community’s services as on the audit’s evaluation areas. In the audit, consistent quality, efficiency, ability to manage risks and campus-independent usability of the services were identified as particular strengths of the services.

As a result of the successful audit, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, TAMK received a FINEEC quality label valid until 16 February 2028. By passing the audit, TAMK 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, RDI activities and societal engagement and impact. The evaluation criteria applied in the audit are available in the FINEEC audit manual. The audits of higher education institutions’ were launched Finland in 2005. The third audit cycle is currently under way.

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

Further information

• Turo Kilpeläinen, Rector, Chair of the Audit Team, +358 44 708 5085, turo.kilpelainen(at)lab.fi
• Helka Kekäläinen, Head of Unit, +358 29 533 5513, helka.kekalainen(a)karvi.fi