Audit of Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT

The audit of Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, LUT was the first of the two pilot audits conducted in the fourth audit cycle 2025-2030.

A central starting point for the FINEEC audits is the statutory duties defined in higher education legislation, alongside the HEIs’ responsibility for their operations and the quality thereof. The Universities Act (558/2009) and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014) include binding provisions requiring HEIs to undergo external evaluations of their operations and quality systems regularly and the publication on the results of these evaluations.

In addition to the requirements of national legislation, the audits have a strong European dimension. They integrate the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG, 2015). A successful audit by FINEEC demonstrates that the HEI’s operations and quality system meet both FINEEC’s national and European criteria.

FINEEC’s audits of HEIs are guided by the principles of enhancement-led evaluation. The audit supports HEIs in developing their operations, considering each institution’s distinctive characteristics, profile and objectives. The enhancement-led evaluation, which considers both the audit process and its outcomes, places emphasis on trust, engagement and a respectful approach to the evaluation subject. In the audit, both the HEI and audit team identify strengths and areas for development in the HEI’s operations.

The purpose of the audit

• To ensure that HEIs maintain and develop the quality of their operations, and to support their continuous, comprehensive and long-term development.
• To ensure that the quality work of HEIs comply with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
• To support strategic management in HEIs, and the implementation of their institutional profiles and core mission objectives.
• To provide stakeholders with information on the operations of HEIs and the development of their quality.

The objectives of the audit

• To support the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Finnish higher education system.
• To support HEIs in identifying their strengths and improvement areas.
• To support HEIs’ foresight and readiness for change.
• To promote and support the planning, implementation, evaluation and development of high-quality education, research, RDI activities, artistic activities and their societal impact.
• To promote and support the well-being, equity, engagement and openness of higher education communities.
• To encourage the internationalisation, collaboration and responsibility of HEIs.
• To promote the development of HEIs’ operations by disseminating good practices.

Evaluation areas and criteria

In the audit, the external audit team assesses the HEI’s operations in relation to the national audit criteria. In the LUT audit, the Audits of higher education institutions 2025–2030. Pilot phase audit manual was applied.

The audit team assessed the evaluation areas I and II as separate entities and used the assessment scale: Excellent, Good, Satisfactory and Insufficient. Evaluation areas I and II must be at least at a satisfactory level for the HEI to pass the audit. The cross-cutting theme chosen by the HEI reflects its profile and ambitions. The audit provides in-depth analysis and targeted feedback on this theme, without influencing the overall audit outcome for the parts which are not included in the criteria.

Excellent 

At the level of excellent, the HEI meets all the criteria for the level of good and, in addition, has carried out strategic, long-term and effective development in the evaluation area. The development of the HEI’s operations benefits both the HEI and its internal and external stakeholders. The HEI has an innovative and widely inclusive organisational culture, where diverse forms of information are utilised in the management and development of operations. The HEI serves as an example to other HEIs, either nationally or internationally. 

Good 

The level of good for evaluation areas I and II is described in the audit manual (pp.12-15). 

Satisfactory 

At the level of satisfactory, the HEI’s operations partially meet the criteria for the level of good. However, in some sub-areas there are clear development needs requiring action to reach the level of good. 

Insufficient 

At the level of insufficient, there are major shortcomings in the quality of the HEI’s operations or its practices for ensuring and developing the quality of its operations are inadequate. 

Implementation of the audit

The audit was based on the Self-Assessment Report and its appendices submitted by the higher education institution, the statistical data compiled by FINEEC, the additional materials requested by the audit team, and the audit team’s site visit to the institution on 14–15 April 2026.

The decision on passing the audit was made by the Higher Education Evaluation Committee, operating in connection with FINEEC, based on the report prepared by the audit team.

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre project managers were Mirella Harri and Eerikki Vainio. 

The central phases and schedule of the audit