Abstract

Title of Publication
 

Audit of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences

Authors


Mika Hannula, Tuomas Kara, Sanja Laitinen-Lindelöf, Anu Pruikkonen, Mira Huusko & Nikolas Bursiewicz

Decision of the Higher Education Evaluation Committee on the Audit

The audit of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) was approved on 25 August 2026. In connection with the approval of the audit, the university was awarded the Quality Label of the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), which is valid until 24 February 2033.

A successful audit demonstrates that Xamk’s operations and quality system meet the national criteria as well as the European standards and guidelines for quality assurance in higher education.

Follow-up

A follow-up review of the audit will be conducted in 2028. However, Xamk must report to FINEEC on its progress regarding the criterion “The higher education institution evaluates its degree programmes regularly” no later than 25 August 2027.

Audit Team’s Assessment of Evaluation Areas I–II

Evaluation Area I: Strategic management through the quality system: Good

Evaluation Area II: Teaching and guidance that promote learning: Good

Audits Team’s General Observations

Xamk has a largely functional, participatory, and data-driven management and quality system that supports the achievement of its strategic objectives. The institution’s strengths include an open and adaptable organizational culture, strong RDI activities, and versatile feedback and monitoring systems. To ensure that strategic goals are achieved consistently throughout the institution, Xamk should further develop the systematic management of education, the regular evaluation of degree programmes, the monitoring of the impact of feedback data, and risk management related to internationalisation, student well-being, and competence management.

The design of Xamk’s educational programmes is based on competence-based education, the institution’s strategic guidelines, and collaboration with working life. The programmes make use of diverse pedagogical solutions, and flexible study pathways. The institution’s strengths include a student-centred approach, systematic development of lifelong learning, internationalisation, and comprehensive guidance and support services.

However, the audit showed that practices vary between degree programmes, particularly in the areas of the concretisation of learning outcomes, assessment practices, constructive alignment, integration of RDI activities, implementation of internationalisation opportunities, and systematic use of feedback data. Development needs were also identified in managing student workload, ensuring consistency in guidance, increasing the visibility of employability and professional skills, and strengthening common evaluation and quality assurance procedures across programmes.

Key Strengths and Recommendations 

Strengths

  • The management of RDI activities is strategic, goal-oriented, and data-driven. 
  • Xamk has strong cooperation with working life and significant regional impact. 
  • Xamk actively identifies areas for improvement and responds quickly to emerging challenges. 
  • The provision of continuous learning opportunities is well planned and extensive. 

Recommendations 

  • Xamk should introduce regular evaluations of degree programmes to support educational quality and continuous improvement. 
  • Risk management within the quality system should be enhanced to proactively identify key operational risks, such as the growth in the number of international students, challenges related to student mobility, and risks of student dropout. 
  • The integration of education and research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities should be strengthened so that RDI is reflected more systematically in teaching and learning. 
  • The roles, responsibilities, and duties of leadership and development structures, such as development forums and programme coordinators, should be clarified to ensure that their mandates and objectives are realistic and clearly understood.