Japan-Nordic Symposium:
On the Frontier of University Education
Tokyo 28 September 2006
"Nordic Success" - the case of Finland
Ossi Tuomi
Secretary General
FINHEEC
www.kka.fi

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)FINHEEC's evaluations
 institutional evaluations (quality audits)
 programme evaluations
 education policy and other thematic evaluations
 evaluations focusing on centres of excellence(additional funding from MinEdu for those whodo well) evaluation and accreditation of professionalcourses

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

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Enhancement-led evaluation as thepremise for FINHEEC operations (1)
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The purpose of the evaluations organised by FINHEEC is tosupport the HEIs in their endeavour to improve the education
they offer (enhancement-led evaluation).
The objective is to produce information which the HEIs canuse in developing their own operations.
Another objective is to exchange and disseminate the goodpractices identified in evaluations among other HEIs.
Not to ascertain minimum standards, no ranking lists.
Public reports provide MinEdu and other stakeholders withinformation on the quality and QA of the HEIs.
Reports include proposals for further development.
HEIs have the ultimate responsibility to utilise and apply theevaluation outcome.

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

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Enhancement-led evaluation as thepremise for FINHEEC operations (2) Based on dialogue with HEIs HEIs have on option to have a say in evaluation policy andevaluation criteria
To secure the trust of HEIs in evaluation
Respect for the autonomy of the HEIs
Peer reviews (external evaluators from HEIs and workinglife)
Student involvement

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

4FINHEEC’s audit model The audit model described in the Audit Manual
http://www.kka.fi/pdf/julkaisut/KKA_406.pdf
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is compatible with the national HEI tradition
respects the autonomy of HEIs
is compatible with the enhancement-led principle
is valid and credible by international standards
meets the requirements imposed by European development and its
different dimensions

 One central premise is HEIs’ own responsibility for thedevelopment of their QA as well as choice andimplementation of procedures

 However, QA in HEIs must meet certain uniform

requirements defined in the Audit Manual

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

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Effects of the evaluations (1) Follow-up evaluations, questionnaries, follow-up seminars
 Ministry of Education utilises evaluation reports indiscussions with HEIs on targets and results
 Evaluations used in the HEIs' strategy work, personnelmeetings, joint seminars for personnel and students
 Proposals generally found to be useful Difficult to be sure of effectiveness:- other factors and interposing variables- FINHEEC has no decision-making power vis à vis thestructural development of HEIs, the establishment ordiscontinuation of faculties, departments or degree
programmes

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

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Effects of the evaluations (2)ExamplesCentres of excellence (teaching & learning, regional
impact, adult education)
 improvement of teachers’ pedagogical skills
 systematic training for teachers units for further development of teaching in HEIs
 status
 additional funding
 increased interest in regional development
 attention to lifelong learning quality audits: tool for educational policy &implementation of European standards
 => a positive, rewarding mode of guidance – and it works

Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvosto — Rådet för utvärdering av högskolorna — The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)7