Humak passed FINEEC’s quality audit – strengths include common value base, coaching model for students and a culture that encourages experimentation

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) announced on Friday, 4^th of October 2024, that Humak University of Applied Sciences has passed the quality system audit carried out this spring. From FINEEC’s audit team, Humak received special praise for its participatory culture, encouraging staff to experiment and work on projects together with partners. The project process for RDI activities is clearly described, and agreed procedures are comprehensively followed in practice. Another strength is Humak’s coaching pedagogy strategy and the coaching model derived from it, which provide a natural framework for teaching and learning. Humak’s strong value base was also praised as it provides a common shared framework for staff, students and stakeholders. The natural link between the values and the objectives is a characteristic of Humak.

– “I am delighted that our practices received good feedback from the audit team. The results of the audit provide an excellent basis for further developing our activities towards becoming a more impactful institute of higher education. At the same time, I would like to thank the audit team for their accurate findings and our own committed staff for their high-quality work”, says Jukka Määttä, President and CEO of Humak.

Happy Humak leaders in spring 2024, ready for the audit days. From left to right: Education Director Timo Parkkola, Service Director Karel McLeod Smith, Development Director Anu Moisio and Education Director Päivi Marjanen. Photo by Johanna Henriksson

Effective guidance practices support the smooth progress of studies

As a strength of Humak, the audit team highlighted the student guidance practices, which support the smooth progression of studies. At Humak, the procedures for the realization of education and the instructions and forms in the electronic Student’s Guide, as well as the guidance practices, support the smooth progression of studies and the graduation of students. The coaching pedagogy strategy and the coaching model derived from it provide a natural framework for teaching and learning.

– “At Humak, it is important to ensure that the coaching model is applied equally to all students. It is also crucial to consider how to ensure genuine encounters between students and staff in degrees carried out mainly online,” says Heidi Rontu, Chair of the audit team and Director of Continuous Learning at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

A culture that encourages experimentation and participation

Humak’s culture was praised for encouraging experimentation and collaboration. Staff are encouraged to experiment with partners, creating the conditions for a creative atmosphere and new innovations. This open and experimental approach strengthens Humak’s position as an innovative learning environment. Humak also effectively supports the use of staff and student skills and networking especially in research, development and innovation activities.

The audit team highlighted the active involvement of staff and students in the development of practices. Humak’s quality culture is participatory and encourages development. This is a major strength. It fosters a sense of community and inclusion. Collaboration at different levels ensures that the voice of all members of the higher education community is heard. Moreover, it supports a culture of continuous improvement. Good practices are actively spread through the staff’s so-called morning coffee meetings and Digipeda morning coffee events, focusing on current digital and pedagogical topics. Proven good practices have been successfully implemented throughout the university of applied sciences.

– “Quality development work at Humak has been carried out in a goal-oriented manner, focusing on achieving long-term solutions. The entire staff, student pool and partners can be thanked for achieving this result. The audits serve as excellent indicators for future development,” Jukka Määttä, Rector and CEO of Humak, states.

Comprehensive participation in the audit and valuable feedback for development

At Humak, a wide range of staff, students and stakeholders participated in the audit. More than half of Humak’s staff were involved in the audit days in one way or another.

– “Thank you to all our Humak employees and stakeholders for participating in the audit. We thank FINEEC and the audit team for their expert assessment, which brought out valuable insights of Humak. The recommendations for improvement will help us in continuing to improve our operations even further,” says Titta Pohjanmäki, Head of Administration, and Johanna Henriksson, Administration Specialist, who coordinate Humak’s quality work.

Students participate in the development of Humak’s operations through, for example, various task groups and staff events. From left: Head of Administration Titta Pohjanmäki, Student Union HUMAKO Executive Director Aleksi Niemi, Specialist Kaisa Manner, HUMAKO Board Chair Elina Liekkinen and Administrative Specialist Johanna Henriksson. Photo by: Jarmo Röksä

Additional information

Humak University of Applied Sciences passed the audit conducted by The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). Humak University of Applied Sciences was awarded a quality stamp valid for six years. The approved audit demonstrates that the activities and quality system of Humak meet both national and European criteria for quality assurance in higher education.

The audit focuses on the higher education institutes’ procedures for maintaining and developing the quality of education, RDI activities, social interaction and impact. The criteria used in the audit are published in FINEEC’s Audit manual for higher education institutions. In Finland, audits of quality systems in higher education institutions were launched in 2005.

The audit report is available on FINEEC’s audit platform (in Finnish).

Read FINEEC’s press release on Humak’s audit pass.

For more information about Humak’s audit:

Jukka Määttä, Rector and CEO, jukka.maatta@humak.fi and Titta Pohjanmäki, Head of Administration, titta.pohjanmaki@humak.fi