Quality Assurance System

University of Lapland has the audit certificate for its quality assurance system granted by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

In addition, Department of Social Work is acknowledged as a Centre of Excellence in University Education for 2010–2012.

What does Quality Assurance mean?

As used by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC), the term ‘quality assurance’ encompasses the procedures, processes or systems that guarantee and improve the quality of education and other educational activities. Hence, the quality means the observance of procedures, processes and systems that have a proven record of success and will enable a university to achieve the goals it has set.

Quality assurance covers all of University’s operations, sets out an unambiguous division of responsibilities and defines the relevant feedback and monitoring processes.

The University’s quality assurance system is a mechanism that guides its strategic management and ensures the effectiveness of the institution’s work. The University Board approved the University’s quality assurance policy and strategy in conjunction with the institution’s Strategy, titled University of Lapland 2020.

The goals of the University’s quality strategy are:

• The strategy will support the University’s teaching, research, and artistic activities and further its service to society.
• The quality assurance system will articulate the central principles and high standards that guide the University’s work.
• The management and development of quality will support and ensure the achievement of the University’s strategic objectives and mission.
• Quality management will be an integral aspect of management, planning and the monitoring of progress at the University.
• The quality assurance system will produce evaluation and monitoring data that can be used to develop the University’s activities.
• The University will actively participate in self-evaluation as well as external evaluations.