The work of the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) is based on the principle of enhancement-led evaluation and producing impactful information which contributes to the enhancement of education.
The purpose of the audit model 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 principles of the audit model are described in the audit manual.
The implementation of the audit
The four-member audit team carried out the audit. The members of the audit team were:
- Professor, Rector Emerita Eva Werner, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria (Chair)
- Higher education Policy Advisor Touko Apajalahti, Technology Industries of Finland
- Bachelor Student Jade Brouns, Fontys Institute for Applied Sciences, the Netherlands
- Quality Manager Tero Janatuinen, JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
Sirpa Moitus from the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre acted as project manager of the audit and Hanna Väätäinen from FINEEC acted as her pair and backup. The audit is based on the material submitted by the higher education institution, self-assessment report, additional material requested by the audit team and the audit team’s virtual visit to the institution 23–24 March 2021. The audit team also had access to essential electronic materials and systems.
The main stages and timetable of the audit were:
| Agreement negotiation |
14 November 2019 Amendment: 16 April 2020 |
| Appointment of the audit team | 22 April 2020 |
| Submission of the audit material and self-assessment report | 31 December 2020 |
| Audit visit | 23–24 March 2021 |
| Higher Education Evaluation Committee’s decision on the result | 16 June 2021 |
| Publication of the report | June 2021 |
| Concluding seminar | 23 June 2021 |
| Follow-up on the enhancement work | 2024 |
Evaluation criteria
The evaluation areas I–III are each assessed as one entity using the scale excellent, good, insufficient.
The level excellent means that the HEI shows evidence of long-term and effective enhancement work. The HEI’s enhancement activities also create substantial added value for the HEI, stakeholders, or both. The HEI presents compelling examples of successful enhancement activities.
The level good for the evaluation areas I–III is described in appendix 1.
The level insufficient means that the HEI shows an absence of or major shortcomings in systematic, functioning, and participatory procedures in the evaluation area (I–III). There is no clear evidence of the impact of quality management in the enhancement of activities.
In order for the HEI to pass the audit, the evaluation areas I–III should reach at least the level good.