Skip to content

Diak receives a quality label in a re-audit

In 2020, the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre FINEEC conducted a re-audit of Diak and issued a Quality Label that will be valid for six years, starting from 16 December 2020.

The quality system of Diak meets the national criteria set for the quality assurance of higher education institutions and corresponds to the European principles and recommendations for the quality assurance of higher education institutions.

The actual audit of Diak was conducted between 2016 and 2017. Back then, the institution did not fulfil the national audit criteria in the actual audit. The development of the quality management system required measures from the institution and a re-audit.

– During the past few years, we have done an enormous work to develop our quality system. We have enhanced our feedback culture and strengthened our practices for better regional impact. We have strongly included our students to the work, says Diak’s acting CEO, Rector Pirjo Hakala.

The quality system covers now the main parts of the basic duties of universities of applied sciences and supports the development of the activities.

– With the implementation of the development plan for quality management drawn up in 2017, the quality work has become more systematic and focused. Through the development work, a uniform quality management system supported by knowledge-based management processes, reformed quality documentation and efficient communication has been created for the entire higher education institution, notes Päivi Karttunen, Chair of the audit team.

As special strengths of the development work, the audit team highlights the following:

  • Since the previous audit, the development of the quality management system has been goal-oriented and comprehensive. The quality system and the knowledge provided by it serve strategic management at different levels.
  • Diak has a large number of quality management procedures that ensure the quality of degree education. Students and the student association O’Diako play an important role in the institution’s quality work.
  • Since the previous audit, Diak has carried out systematic development work to clarify the objectives of its societal impact and regional development work and to develop its quality management procedures. Proactive and strategic development partnerships promote Diak’s societal impact and support the implementation of its strategy.