The University’s quality management system covers the entire range of education provided by the university (undergraduate education, postgraduate education, continuing education and Open University education), research, societal and regional interaction and support services. The quality management system is described in the main quality manual and the subordinate quality manuals of faculties and other organisational units. The quality manuals include process descriptions and procedures for key processes. The university’s quality management documents and other related material are available on the University intranet.
The University’s main quality manual gives both internal and external stakeholders a comprehensive picture of the quality management of the university’s different activities. The University has also published LUT Teachers´ Quality Manual to promote good teaching practices (Enclosure 8).
Quality manual for the Faculty of Technology
Quality goals of education given in the Faculty of Technology are the same as those given in the University’s quality manual. These goals are:
- The education provided by Lappeenranta University is competitive and of a high standard, and yields results.
- There are versatile study opportunities.
- Students at the university obtain high-level academic know-how, including: how to utilise and apply their skills in both further studies and the world of work, how to forecast the changing needs of the labour market and react to them appropriately and how to operate in an international environment.
- The university’s students and employers of LUT graduates are satisfied with the contents and implementation of the studies. The teaching staff is satisfied with the conditions provided by the University for teaching.
Education in the Faculty of Technology includes also the following principles:
- Education is based on the basic principles of natural sciences.
- Education meets the needs of industry.
6.1 Evaluation during the degree programmes
During their studies students can give feedback concerning the studies and conditions in the University on several occasions. At the beginning of the studies students are asked about the success of tutoring. The survey is carried out annually by the Student Affairs Office. The feedback is discussed with the peer tutors and personnel in charge of tutoring. The feedback is used to develop tutoring practices and training.
The Student Union surveys the state of well-being of students every other year. The results of the questionnaire are communicated to the university personnel.
All students prepare an individual study plan at the start of their studies. The study plans are evaluated and confirmed in accordance with faculty or department procedures. In the Degree Programme in Electrical Engineering, the head of the Degree Programme accepts the study plans.
The progress of studies and the accumulation of credits are monitored by the Student Affairs Office. The results are reported to the degree programmes, and the follow-up reports are available on the University intranet. The accumulation of credits is also examined annually to confirm students’ eligibility for student financial aid from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Statistics on ECTS credits accumulated are compiled annually for each faculty, and the number of completed credits is one of the grounds for resource allocation to departments.
Student feedback of study courses is collected with an electronic web-based questionnaire according to a university-wide procedure. Teachers are responsible for collecting the student feedback, with the help of feedback system administrators. All course evaluations include questions on the expediency of the course, general impression of the course and open feedback. Additional questions are also possible.
6.2 Evaluation of the success of the degree programmes
Success of the degree programmes provided by Lappeenranta University of Technology is evaluated by assessing the competence of the graduates, quantitative results of the degree programmes, and the satisfaction in the education.
Competence of graduates
Skills and knowledge accumulated by students during the entire education process are demonstrated in a final thesis, which is prepared by all Bachelor’s and Master’s level students. Skills in the student’s native language are demonstrated in a maturity test at the end of Bachelor´s degree studies.
Quantitative results of a degree programme
Information on the number of graduates, the times of degree completion, and the employment of the graduates are collected by LUT Student Services and compiled into annual statistics. The cost-efficiency of the education is also evaluated annually when the final accounts are drawn up.
The student mobility is monitored yearly by International Services. Student exchange statistics are compiled on the University intranet and published in the university’s final accounts documents.
Satisfaction in the education
Satisfaction in the education obtained in the University among the graduates is surveyed at the time of graduation and five years after graduation. The feedback is broken down into individual degree programmes. Quality manager is responsible for this process together with Student Services. Career information and satisfaction with the education
is collected five years after graduation from the graduates with a Master’s degree. The survey is conducted by LUT Career Services as a part of a national career follow-up.
Career information is collected five years after graduation from the graduates with a Master’s degree. The survey is conducted by LUT Career Services as a part of a national career follow-up.
Satisfaction in the outcome of thesis projects and in the skills of the students is surveyed with a questionnaire is sent to the employers/supervisors of the graduates. The results are reported annually by the quality manager.
International and Career Services Unit collects feedback on student and support services from incoming exchange students at the end of their stay. LUT students leaving for student exchange write a report upon their return. The reports are published on the university web site. These follow-up practices are described in further detail in the Quality Manual of International and Career Services.
6.3 Further development of the degree programmes
The University is actively involved in a number of different national and international development projects for teaching. The Vice Rector in charge of education decides on development projects which LUT engages in and starts to promote. The Department of Electrical Engineering has been active, for instance, in the Virtual University project in which the Laboratory developed a web-based Basic Electronics course. The Department also participated in a project that focused on promoting the completion of Master’s degree in five years (see footnote 3, section 3.2.1).
The pilot project of the Department was to develop the supervision of individual study plans. Staff of the Department has also been active in developing the quality management system of education and feedback systems, and in writing the LUT Teacher’s Quality Manual.
The University grants quality bonuses for the development of education for one year at a time. The quality bonus is a reward for development measures taken and an incentive for the further development of education and teaching.
The steering and development group for education makes the preparations for the application procedure and the decision to grant a quality bonus, and the Rector decides the recipients of the bonus.
The pay system of the University provides an incentive for teachers to develop their teaching and pedagogical skills.
The job classification of the teaching staff is based on scientific qualifications and their development, the development of teaching skills and the variety of teaching duties, and responsibility for one’s field of science and its development.
The support services for education provide administrative services and technological support in using educational technology for teachers. The responsibility for these support services is shared by Student Services and Information Services and Technology, which operate within the context of University Services, and by faculty support services.
For teaching positions, the university recruits professionals with not only strong scientific expertise in the field in question, but with pedagogical skills as well. Applicants for teaching positions must submit a teaching portfolio or another report on their teaching qualifications. Instructions for compiling a teaching portfolio are available on the University intranet. In addition, the appointment of professors requires a trial lecture from the applicant. The faculty in question supplies the applicant with instructions regarding the trial lecture. Instructions are also available from the university registrar’s office.
ENCLOSURES
1. Evidence of adequate teaching capacity (not included in this publication) 2. Staff Handbook (not included in this publication)
3. Module Handbook
4. Objectives Matrix Models, Model Curricular Analysis
5. University Regulations on Education and the Completion of Studies (not included in this publication) 6. Universities Act 558/2009, Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004 (not included in this
publication)
7. LUT Strategy 2013 (not included in this publication)
8. LUT Teacher's Quality Manual (not included in this publication)
9. LUT Quality Manual (not included in this publication) 10. Student Feedback Form (not included in this publication)
11. Audit of the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council, Abstract 2009, Audit Certificate HEEC (not included in this publication)
12. International evaluation by the Academy on Finland 2006 (not included in this publication) 13. Diploma Supplements (not included in this publication)