International evaluation of education
The strategic aim of the University of Helsinki is to reinforce its position among leading European universities both in research and teaching. The University carried out an international evaluation of its education in the years 2007–2008. The Focus of the evaluation was the management and leadership of education on various levels, including the University as a whole, faculties, departments ant the Language Centre. The aim and starting point of the evaluation of education was to develop the university community and its various units.
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Final Evaluation Report: |
Observed Strengths in the University of Helsinki
The evaluation panel commends the University of Helsinki for being a strong and diversified research-based University which aspires to excel in all fields. The University boasts an impressive staff and student body. The University has a solid tradition of democratic and participative governance and good interactive work processes. The panel gives positive feedback on the Rector’s leadership practices, which include written feedback and performance seminars with the deans. The panel finds the senior lecturers in university pedagogy, who work in the faculties, to be a good innovation. The panel also finds that the University has responded positively to the demands of the Bologna Process.
Recommendations by the Panel
The panel’s report recommends that the University continue to enhance strategic leadership and management on all institutional levels. The connection between the University’s strategy periods and the Government’s strategy periods, consequently making the University’s planning periods too short, was considered unnecessary. It is also important to ensure that the decisions taken are adjusted according to the resources that they require. The University leadership needs to adopt a more proactive mode of operation. The panel finds that the University has many working groups whose roles are unclear. An abundance of data is produced and collected, but not used in systematic strategic processes. The panel proposes that the University develop a clear strategy for research-based teaching. The University should enhance the quality of its education by focusing on the opportunities offered by the internationalisation of education (strategy for international operations). The panel recommends a detailed review of the University’s decision-making structures at all levels. According to the panel, deans and vice-deans could be more closely involved in University decision-making.
The twelve-member international evaluation panel was chaired by Professor, Vice-Rector Eva Åkesson from Lund University. The evaluation raised a number of institutional strengths and good practices and produced 43 recommendations for University-level improvements. The panel found numerous strengths and good practices in the faculties (122) and gave a total of 67 recommendations for improvements. The evaluation included all faculties of the University, as well as the Language Centre and the Swedish School of Social Science.
More information, please contact:
Vice-Rector Hannele Niemi, hannele.niemi(at)helsinki.fi, ph. 358 9 1912336
Senior Advisor Seppo Saari, seppo.o.saari(at)helsinki.fi, ph. 358 50 310 2712
Previous evaluations:
Evaluation of the Quality of Education and Degree Programmes in the University of Helsinki 2001-2002: Evaluation report (.pdf)
Researchers and Publications