Assessment of Competence
Your degree’s qualification level and competences show the skills and knowledge expected of you when you graduate. You progress towards them one study course at a time. The assessment and feedback you receive show how your competence develops.
The qualification level of a UAS degree is internationally defined
All Finnish qualifications are placed within the national qualifications framework, which has eight levels describing the competence expected of you upon graduation. A bachelor’s degree (UAS) is at level 6 and a master’s degree (UAS) is at level 7.
The Finnish framework is linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), so your degree is recognised across Europe.
Competences required for a UAS degree:
- Has a good command of comprehensive and advanced knowledge of his/her field, involving a critical understanding and appraisal of theories, key concepts, methods and principles.
- Understands the extent and boundaries of professional functions and/or disciplines.
- Has advanced cognitive and practical skills, demonstrating mastery of the issues and the ability to apply knowledge and find creative solutions and applications required in a specialised professional, scientific or artistic field to solve complex or unpredictable problems.
- Works independently in expert tasks of the field and in international co-operation or as an entrepreneur.
- Manages complex professional activities or projects. Can make decisions in unpredictable operating environments.
- In addition to evaluating and developing his/her own competence, he/she takes responsibility for the development of individuals and groups. Has the ability for lifelong learning.
- Considers communal and ethical aspects when dealing with different people in learning and working communities and other groups and networks.
- Communicates to a good standard verbally and in writing in his/her mother tongue both to audiences in the field and outside it.
- Communicates and interacts in the second national language and is capable of international communication and interaction in his/her field in at least one foreign language.
Competences required for a UAS Master’s (YAMK in Finnish) degree:
- Understands comprehensive and highly spe cialised concepts, methods and knowledge corresponding to the specialised competence in his/her field, which are used as the basis for independent thinking and/or research.
- Understands issues that are at the interface between his/her field and different fields and evaluates them and new knowledge critically.
- Solves demanding problems, also creatively, in research and/or innovation, which develop new knowledge and procedures and applies and combines knowledge from various fields.
- Works independently in demanding expert tasks of the field and in international co-oper ation or as an entrepreneur.
- Manages and develops complex, unpredicta ble and new strategic approaches.
- Manages things and/or people. – Evaluates the activities of individuals and groups. Accumulates knowledge and prac tices in his/her field and/or takes responsibil ity for the development of others.
- Has the ability for lifelong learning. – Considers communal and ethical aspects when dealing with different people in learning and working communities and other groups and networks.
- Communicates to a good standard verbally and in writing in his/her mother tongue both to audiences in the field and outside it.
- Communicates and interacts in the second national language and is capable of demanding international communication and interaction in his/her field in at least one foreign language.
Shared and degree-specific skills are described as competences
Competence is described through competences, that is, broad areas of expertise. They define the knowledge, skills and capabilities you need in working life. Humak’s curricula are built around qualification levels and competences.
Shared competences are common to all UAS degrees. They form the foundation for professional expertise, working life skills and collaboration.
Course assessment
The competences of your field — the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you need in your profession — become course objectives. Each course assesses how well you have reached them.
Grades
At Humak, your competence is assessed either numerically on a scale of 0–5 or verbally on a pass/fail scale.
- excellent (5): you master at least 90% of the objectives
- good (4): you master 75–89% of the objectives
- good (3): you master 65–74% of the objectives
- satisfactory (2): you master 55–64% of the objectives
- satisfactory (1): you master 40–54% of the objectives
- fail (0): you have not yet reached the objectives
You can find the grading scale used for a specific course and its detailed assessment criteria in the course information in Peppi and in the curriculum.
Feedback as part of learning
You gather different kinds of information about your growing competence throughout a course. All interaction during your studies — discussions with lecturers and fellow students, and collaboration in, for example, traineeships or projects — helps you learn and supports your development. You receive feedback in writing, spoken, or signed form. You also develop your skills in self-assessment and in peer assessment with fellow students.