Students, stakeholder partners and personnel are at the center of quality work

In Humak’s quality work, the circle of continuous development is applied, where the stages Plan – Do – Check – Act follow each other. The following picture shows the quality management of studies – the methods of operation with which Humak monitors, maintains and develops the quality of its operations – from the student’s point of view.

Humak’s principles of quality work

• Our operations are guided by the strategy, vision, mission and values of the Humak University of Applied Sciences.
• Our operations are based on the goals set in the financial and operational plan.
• The goal of our quality work is to produce high-level degrees, continuous learning training products that reform working life, RDI activities that serve our industries, and social impact nationally and internationally.
• Our quality and operational management system is based on the continuous development cycle (PDCA model): plan, do, check and act.
• Quality work is promoted with a common culture of development, which is implemented through openness, participation and participation opportunities.
• At the center of quality work are personnel, students and working life stakeholder partners.
• Quality management and quality work is part of the everyday work of every Humak employee and students.

Responsibilities for quality work at Humak

The President, CEO is responsible for the quality of the entire University of Applied Sciences’ operations and its development. The President, CEO is supported in his quality work by the head of strategy, who is responsible for coordinating and developing the overall quality and operational management system together with the Quality and Standards Committee and the Executive Team.

In Humak, the quality and operational management work is coordinated by the Quality and Standards Committee (QSC), whose task is to:

• coordinate Humak’s quality work and operational management
• develops a quality, feedback and evaluation system as well as operational management
• prepare guidelines related to quality work and operational control
• support the management and strategy work of the university of applied sciences from the perspective of quality work and operational guidance

The QSC group also has student representation.

What are my responsibilities as a student?

Students play a key role in Humak’s quality work. Students participate in quality work by providing feedback both during their courses and through various student surveys during and after their studies – and by receiving feedback as part of their studies. Humak has an extensive and active student representation, through which students can directly influence the development work of the University of Applied Sciences. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in the statutory six-yearly external evaluation. Students are also responsible for the quality of their own learning and the development of their skills.

The operation is evaluated every six years with an audit

Universities of Applied Sciences have a statutory obligation to participate in the external evaluation of all their activities. The Quality System of Humak has passed the audit of the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), which ensures that our activities and systems meet both national and European quality assurance criteria for higher education institutions. The quality label is valid until 4 October 2030 and we are on the register of higher education institutions.

The audit focuses on higher education institutions’ procedures for maintaining and enhancing the quality of education, RDI activities and societal interaction. The criteria used are based on the FINEEC´s audit manual for higher education institutions 2019–2024, which guides quality assurance processes and supports higher education institutions in the continuous development of their activities.

The aim of the audit is to help students, staff and stakeholders to identify the strengths, good practices and areas for development of the higher education institution. This creates a strong basis for continuous development and improvement. The audits of higher education institutions’ quality systems were launched Finland in 2005. 

Humak’s 2024 audit report is available on FINEEC´s audit platform.  

Does the audit apply to students?

Students play an important role in the audit. The latest round of audits included student workshops with a total of 36 students from different areas of Humak. In these workshops, students discussed, among other things, how they could contribute to the development of the higher education institution. By participating in the audit, students can have a concrete impact on their learning experience and on improving the quality of student services at Humak.