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
A four-member audit team carried out the audit. The members of the audit team were:
- Professor Eva Åkesson, Lund University, Sweden (chair)
- Student Marc Perkins, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Professor Jürgen Seifried, University of Mannheim, Germany
- Chief Advisor Anni Siltanen, The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.
Mira Huusko from the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre acted as project manager of the audit and Hanna Väätäinen as back-up project manager. The audit is based on material submitted by the higher education institution, self-assessment report, additional material requested by the audit team and the audit team’s visit to the institution between 9 and 10 November 2022. The audit team had also access to essential electronic materials and systems. The main stages and timetable of the audit were:
| Agreement negotiation | 27.5.2021 |
| Appointment of the audit team | 25.5.2022 |
| Submission of the audit material and self-assessment report | 17.8.2022 |
| Information and discussion event at UEF | 3.10.2022 |
| Audit visit | 9.-10.11.2022 |
| Higher Education Evaluation Committee’s decision on the result | 3.3.2023 |
| Publication of the report | 3.3.2023 |
| Concluding seminar | 3.4.2023 |
| Follow-up on the enhancement work | 2026 |
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.