The University of Vaasa passed international quality audit – diverse cooperation with the industry in the region, and support for student welfare and international students university’s strengths

The University of Vaasa passed the audit conducted by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) and was awarded a quality label valid for six years. Passing the audit shows that the University of Vaasa’s activities and quality system meet both the national criteria and the European quality assurance criteria for higher education institutions. 

"I warmly thank all the members of the personnel, students and stakeholder groups who participated in the preparation of the audit process and the audit interviews. Passing the Karvi audit is an extremely important achievement for us, as it represents the quality level that is nationally expected of us,” says Rector Minna Martikainen.

The University of Vaasa's study programmes are planned and implemented with the participation of key stakeholders

The University of Vaasa delivers practice and research-based education jointly co-created by students, staff and external stakeholders. Planning and implementation of the university’s degree programmes are transparently organised with the involvement of relevant stakeholders. According to the audit team, the university should strengthen the role of its external stakeholders in the development of the portfolio of study programmes. Student feedback is appropriately collected and well processed for quality of education. The university has established functional feedback practices and systems to support continuous learning and the management of the portfolio of study programmes.

Vice-Rector Tanja Risikko thanks the audit team for their comprehensive evaluation and excellent report.

“A particular strength highlighted was the University of Vaasa's ecosystem thinking and close cooperation with the region's business community and stakeholders. We especially value the strong participation of our students and stakeholders in the planning and development of our study programs,” says Risikko.

The University of Vaasa aims to increase the number of international students. The university provides excellent support services as regards student well-being and welcoming international students. The audit team recommends that the university should strengthen the involvement of international students in decision-making. The audit team paid attention to the content of the curricula and syllabus and formulation of the intended learning outcomes.

“The University of Vaasa should monitor and update study programmes continuously to ensure that intended learning outcomes and assessment methods are aligned,”says the chair of the audit team, Professor Tatjana Volkova from Latvia.

Audit team also recommends, that the academic faculty should be encouraged to utilise more pedagogical innovations for teaching and learning. 

University of Vaasa has diverse and vibrant cooperation with the industry in the region 

University of Vaasa's diverse and vibrant cooperation with industry in the Ostrobothnia region is based on ecosystem thinking and regional heritage. The university benefits from the strong industry and work communities in the area. External stakeholders are involved in the university’s activities at many levels. University of Vaasa’s research work is well connected to industry and society. According to the audit team, greater involvement of small and medium-size enterprises would broaden university’s societal engagement and impact.

The audit team recommends that the University of Vaasa strengthen the systematic use of quantitative and qualitative metrics to monitor and enhance its societal engagement and impact in the short and long term. Indicators for societal engagement and impact should be more integrated with other quality management system indicators and with the University of Vaasa Strategy 2030.

According to Tanja Risikko, the audit team's observations provide valuable guidance for the continuous improvement of quality. Systematic and comprehensive quality assessment and management are being developed as a long-term part of the university's management system.

“The audit team's observations also highlighted the university's communal spirit and commitment to developing its operations. I want to thank the personnel, students, and stakeholders for their joint efforts", tells Risikko.

The quality system could be further developed

The active participation of staff in quality assurance activities demonstrates a high level of commitment to further improving university’s activities. The University of Vaasa carries out international degree programme accreditations, and a wide range of quality work in which staff, students and external stakeholders can participate. According to the audit team, the University of Vaasa should adopt a more systemic, systematic and strategic approach to enhancing the overall quality management system. The university should build a shared understanding of the meaning of quality, set strategic quality goals and monitor progress towards them regularly. 

The audit focuses on higher education institutions’ procedures for maintaining and enhancing the quality of education, research, and societal engagement and impact. The audit criteria have been published in FINEEC's Audit manual for higher education institutions. The audits of higher education institutions’ quality systems were launched in Finland in 2005. 

The audit report of the University of Vaasa is available on FINEEC's audit platform.