Follow-up and feedback are important components in the systematic quality work. We follow up all our study programmes both in everyday teaching, meetings between teachers and students, and through systematic response systems and external and collegial quality assessments:
- compulsory course evaluation according to a system common for the entire university
- study climate survey for all first-year, third-year and fifth-year students
- the Finnish Bachelor’s Graduate Survey, compiled yearly
- survey for postgraduate students every second year
- audits conducted by The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), and accreditations
- assessments by external experts
- collegial assessments of research and teaching.
We also follow up on the employment situation for our students one year and five years after graduation, and after a doctoral degree. The response and follow-up results are an important basis when faculties and subjects develop the content and structure of the study programmes.
In addition to the assessments carried out by FINEEC (a member of The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)), Åbo Akademi University initiates additional external assessments of, for example, study programmes, research areas or functions. Åbo Akademi University also provides data for Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) and QS World University Rankings.
The quality of education and research is also indirectly supported by key figures and follow-up regarding goals set in strategy and performance agreements, human resources and competence development, use of facilities, ICT equipment and finances.
The work environment quality is followed up in the yearly discussions on professional development between supervisors and employees. Every second year, there is a work climate survey for all employees at Åbo Akademi University. Åbo Akademi University participates in the European Commission procedure Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) and has signed the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
Åbo Akademi University Library provides data for the national statistics for academic libraries. The database Vipunen (Education Statistics Finland) comprises reported statistics on applicants, students, degrees, study progress, personnel, international activity, publications, student feedback and career monitoring.