Degree Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management awarded ASIIN and EUR-ACE accreditations

In Finland, ASIIN and EUR-ACE quality labels have previously been awarded to the degree programmes of Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, University of Jyväskylä and University of Vaasa as well as to individual degree programmes of universities of applied sciences.

The accreditation is based on a 16-criteria evaluation of education. The criteria include learning objectives, degree structures, teaching implementation methods, curricula and student admissions. The audit also assesses working life connections and stakeholder participation as well as resources, such as the number of personnel, their competence and funding mechanisms.

“The awarded quality labels reflect that our long-term and active development of education is bearing fruit. They help us demonstrate the quality of both the degree programme and our university education to students and partners in Finland and abroad,” says Osmo Kauppila, Director of the Industrial Engineering and Management degree programme and University Lecturer.

Since the field of Industrial Engineering and Management includes not only engineering but also education in other fields, such as leadership and business management, the unit decided to apply for two quality labels. “We received a lot of information from the process, which we can use to continue the development of the education,” Kauppila adds. While the accreditations have been initially granted for one year, they are likely to be extended to 2028 once the university implements a few measures required by the audit.

Currently, there are approximately 300 undergraduate students in Industrial Engineering and Management. Each year, 45–50 new students start the five-year programme and 25 the Master’s programmes.

ASIIN, the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, is a worldwide accreditation organisation for higher education. It assesses and accredits study programmes in engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science as well as economics and medicine.

EUR-ACE is a quality label awarded by the European Network for Engineering Accreditation (ENAEE) to study programmes in the field of engineering in Europe. ENAEE has created a standard to identify high-quality engineering degree programmes.