At the University of Eastern Finland, quality management refers to expediency in activities relating to leadership, education, research and societal interaction, as well as to a high quality of the related outcomes. The foundations of our activities are rooted in customer needs and expectations, and in fulfilling them. We develop our activities on the basis of customer feedback and continuous evaluation, and best practices are efficiently disseminated within the university.
The university’s quality management is based on its strategy. Quality management supports the achievement of the university's strategic goals and continuous development of our activities, and it engages our students, staff members and stakeholders.
The university's quality management is based on the Universities Act and on the quality assurance objectives of the Finnish Evaluation Centre, FINEEC. It also has features from the ISO9001 quality standard, and it observes the instructions and recommendations given by the European University Association (EUA) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Our Quality Management System also complies with the ESG standards of the European Higher Education Area.
Information about the university’s quality management and Quality Management System is openly disseminated to the staff and students, and the entire academic community has the opportunity to participate in quality management and its development via various different channels.
Quality Management System
The Quality Management System covers all activities of the university: strategic leadership, research, education and social interaction, as well as the related supporting services. The principles of the Quality Management System are defined in the university's Main Quality Manual.
The key principles of the Quality Management System are as follows:
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The Quality Management System supports the carrying out and development of the university’s core missions in a reliable and internationally recognised manner.
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Strategic leadership, which supports research and teaching, and continuous development of activities, are based on analyses produced on the basis evaluations and feedback.
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The university is an innovative, internationally recognised and sought-after learning, working and research community, as well as a long-term and reliable strategic partner.
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The university’s activities are transparent, equal, participatory and communal.
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The university promotes well-being among its staff and students and takes the principles relating to multiculturalism, global social responsibility and sustainable development into consideration in its activities.
How is quality evaluated and managed?
In Finland, universities and universities of applied sciences are monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture steers higher education institutions through an increasingly extensive review of indicators at least once a year. In addition, the quality management system of each higher education institution is audited at least every six years. These audits are carried out by an independent expert, the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, FINEEC.
The University of Eastern Finland has held a quality certificate issued by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, FINEEC, since 2010. The latest international audition was held on 2016. According to the audit report, the university's quality management fulfills our national criteria and also the European principles and recommendations for quality assurance. The next FINEEC audit will be held on Autumn 2022.
In addition, the University of Eastern Finland has been awarded the Diploma Supplement (DS) Label by the European Commission as an honorary distinction for applying the Diploma Supplement correctly in all respects. The university has also been recognised with the European Commission acknowledgement "Human Resources (HR) Excellence in Research" as a provider and supporter of a stimulating and favourable working environment.
