EUR-ACE label awarded to the Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering at Oamk University of Applied Sciences
The engineering degree programme in Mechanical Engineering at Oamk University of Applied Sciences was awarded the European EUR-ACE label following an accreditation by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). This was the first accreditation of the programme.
The accreditation is conditional and first valid for a year until 19th September 2026. FINEEC Committee for Engineering Education shall decide by this date, whether the accreditation continues by 19th September 2031. Decision will be made based on the development report submitted by Oamk.
The curriculum and work-life relations that are excellently aligned with the needs of working life are the strengths of the degree programme
The review team sees that the current curriculum of the mechanical engineering degree programme is very well aligned with the needs of working life. Cooperation with companies is close and offers students ample opportunities to develop their skills. The laboratories that serve as learning environments are excellent.
Oamk sees accreditation as both a recognition of quality and a tool for development
Oamk has worked systematically to obtain accreditation. In total, it took about a year to prepare the self-assessment and plan the site-visit programme together with FINEEC.
"The accreditation of the Mechanical Engineering degree programme is a significant recognition of the long-term development work that we have done at Oamk to ensure the competence, quality of education and working life orientation of our personnel. It shows that our programme meets internationally recognized requirements and provides students with a strong foundation for building expertise," says Heidi Fagerholm, Rector of Oamk.
"The FINEEC accreditation process itself was a valuable and positive experience for the entire staff working in the degree programme. The feedback we received helps us identify areas for development and maintain the strengths of the degree programme in the future," continues Tuija Sipilä, Head of Competence area in technology at Oamk.
The development target is to clarify the learning outcomes of the degree programme
The review team also gave the degree programme development recommendations. Currently, the distinction between the general aims of the degree programme (programme aims) and the learning outcomes of the degree programme (programme learning outcomes) is not sufficiently clear. In addition, the degree programme should invest more in ensuring that its students apply for exchange studies abroad.
Accreditations of engineering degree programmes in FINEEC
Accreditation of engineering degree programmes in FINEEC is based on the international EUR-ACE standard and can lead to the EUR-ACE quality label if the degree programme meets the requirements set by the standard. The aim of the accreditations is to support the development of quality in engineering degree programmes and to increase the international comparability and recognition of Finnish engineering degrees in working life. The accreditations are voluntary for Finnish higher education institutions.
Further information:
Councellor of Evaluation Kati Isoaho, +358 533 5501, kati.isoaho@karvi.fi