Audit of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences

The Student’s Opinion Is Important

In the autumn of 2020, the old e-form based course feedback system was replaced with a new feedback system (Spark feedback service). The new system is integrated into the newly adopted student management system Peppi. The advantage of the new system is that those courses we wish the students to give feedback on are visible on the student’s desktop. The student’s final feedback and the teacher’s feedback-on-feedback are already in use. From the beginning of the next year new features, continuous feedback and intermediate feedback, will be adopted. Of all these features, each teacher can tailor the best combination for her/his purposes. We believe that the new system will motivate the students to give more feedback because having given feedback the student will see how the other students have evaluated the course and the teacher’s feedback-on feedback.

In addition to the national AVOP Graduand Feedback Questionnaire and the career monitoring survey, we also do the Radar survey every year, the results of which are compiled on the UAS level but also for each unit, degree programme and group. The tutor teachers receive a summary of the results of their respective groups and they are instructed to go through them with the group. Feedback is also received through the Feedy system, which is a feedback and initiative channel for all, student and staff. Feedback can be given through Feedy anonymously, but all those who give their contact information will be replied personally. We also encourage the students to contact our personnel directly. The informal relations between the teachers and the students enable the direct feedback.

Students’ Success a Strategic Area for Development

The success of students has been included as one strategic area for development at VAMK. The achievement of the objectives set for the degree programmes are evaluated in the Management Team, units, and degree programme meetings, utilising the student feedback mentioned above, indicators of educational activities recorded in the strategy, statistics and feedback from working life. The indicators with which we measure the success of students are degrees taken within the target duration, feedback from the graduands, attraction and the percentage of employed graduates one year after the graduation. The prizes and honourable mentions received by students also depict the success of students. VAMK students have received prizes for example in Project Management and in enhancing the management in health care and social services. The majority of our graduates find employment right after the graduation, which is the most important indicator. In future, we will pay special attention to the employment of our international students in the Ostrobothnia region. An indicator for this is under development.

The feedback from working life received by the Management and teaching staff is evaluated and the curricula are reviewed and reformed annually, taking into account the changing need of the society and working life. In continuous learning, we provide single courses or larger modules as open UAS studies. Through working life connections, we hear about needs for further or specialised training. UAS Master’s degrees also provide a good path to continuous learning, and we have received good feedback on these programmes from our students. To increase the provision of continuous learning opportunities the President has invited a team of experts to discuss how to enhance our activities in this. In addition, we have recruited more staff and consolidated our competence in the design and coordination of continuous learning.

Digital Support Services

Student services have been enhanced in a student-centred manner by digitalising the most frequently used services as well services that require person-to-person contact. This was implemented by introducing ATOMI, automated student affairs office. The service produces quickly for example e-signed documents that students need for various authorities. The next development phase is the introduction of VALO graduation service, which enables the e-signing of the diploma. The graduation process becomes clearer for students when they can track their application for degree diploma online. In future, the student will receive, in addition to the traditional diploma, an e-signed digital diploma. All new e-services will be integrated into the Peppi service.

For the student, the digitalization of the services means flexible service, and it enables the use of services outside the office hours. The study affairs office still provides person-to-person services according to the situation and the needs of the student. The working hours freed due to the digitalization will be directed to guidance and for person-to-person services to those who have a special need for it. The functioning of support services will be enhanced in cooperation and interactively with the education units. Once a month, the President and the Administrative Director call a meeting to discuss and deal with current issues in the support services.