A Study On The Audit Of Quality Assurance System In Finnish Higher Education Institutions

This paper regards the audit on the quality assurance system of Finnish higher education institutions as its target, which carried out by Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council(FHINEEC). The goal of the audit is to find out the features in different audit stages. And then to compare with our country’s audit of quality assurance system in higher education. In this way, we can find out the disadvantages in our country and learn from Finnish experience. In the research way, the author used the following main methods: literature method, comparative method,case analysis method to study and analyze the audit on the quality system in Finnish higher education institutions including audit goal, audit body, audit targets, audit processes and the usage of audit result. Through analyzing and studying, the author concluded some features of the audits as following: high autonomy of audit object(higher education institutions), the relative independence of audit body(FINHEEC), the democracy of decision, the transparency of result. Compared with Finnish audit of quality system, the author concluded some suggestions to the audit of our quality system in higher education. Firstly, we should have a correct understanding of the role and status of government in quality system audit. Secondly, we should pay more attention to the role and status of higher education institutions in audits. And then, we should pay more attention to the output of education not the input when we set the audit standards. Lastly, the students should take part in the audit. The paper is divided into six parts. Part one, Introduction. Introduction part includes the background and importance of this research, research methods, definition of some items, literature review, etc. Part two, General situation of Finnish higher education. In this part, the author will introduce Finnish education system, development stages and two kinds of higher educations.Part three, Quality assurance system of Finnish higher education. In this part, the author will introduce the quality system the three aspects: macro view, middle view and micro view. Part four, Audit of quality assurance system in Finnish higher education institutions. The part will study the audit goal, audit body, audit targets, audit processes and audit results. Part five, Case analysis. In this part, the author takes JAMK University of Applied Sciences for instance to study how does every stage be put into effect. Part six, Features and inspirations of the audit in Finland.