High-quality teaching and deep learning stand out in student feedback at Uniarts Helsinki

Once again, Uniarts Helsinki was one of the top performers nationally in the national bachelor’s graduate survey. Students are confident in their competence, even in challenging topics, and report that they are learning new things, developing their thinking skills and gaining the ability to apply the skills acquired during their studies in the workplace. Multidisciplinarity, self-directed learning, and peer learning and interaction strongly support learning. Supervision of thesis projects and support for study planning are also rated as better than the national average. 

In terms of employability skills, Uniarts Helsinki’s key strengths include creativity, critical thinking, self-awareness, performance and collaboration skills, and the ability to articulate one’s own competence. Traineeships and work experience are considered useful, and master’s graduates, in particular, highlight professional networks as an exceptionally strong factor in promoting employment.

The learning environment and services reliably support students’ everyday lives. Safety in studies and library services are rated as excellent, and teaching facilities, equipment, and support services contribute to a smooth study experience. 

Things to improve based on the feedback 

Across the surveys, the results also indicate development needs. The ratings concerning student wellbeing and workloads are below the national average, particularly in the wellbeing indicators of the bachelor’s graduate survey. However, there has been a slight positive trend in wellbeing over a four-year period. There are also differences between academies, as the Sibelius Academy’s results are already at a good level. Addressing wellbeing themes as part of studies received a low rating. 

Digital systems received low ratings in terms of functionality, consistency and usability. Systems are seen as fragmented and difficult to use, and the findability of study-related information is also rated lower. These results provide an important foundation for ongoing development work aimed at improving digital systems and the findability and accessibility of information based on student feedback. 

In addition, while employability skills are a clear strength, academic core competences – such as analytical and systematic thinking, information retrieval and evaluation skills and the ability to structure and justify one’s own expertise – require further development. Students’ self-assessments in these areas are below the national average. According to the surveys, more efforts must be made in promoting teaching in IT skills, entrepreneurship and sustainability. 

The survey also found that 15% of students have experienced inappropriate treatment and 6% have experienced discrimination. Although these experiences have become slightly less common compared to the previous survey, challenges related to equality remain, particularly in relation to language, gender and functional ability. Notably, only around one third of these experiences have been reported or addressed, underlining the need to strengthen people’s trust in reporting and in support mechanisms. 

Use of results and follow-up actions 

In accordance with Uniarts Helsinki’s quality system, the results of student feedback surveys are used to support continuous improvement. The surveys provide information on development needs, which are addressed in line with the principles of ongoing quality enhancement.

The results will be discussed in various forums, including the executive groups for bachelor’s and master’s education and for research and doctoral education and the student wellbeing working group. The identified development needs will lead to concrete measures at academy and unit levels as part of annual planning. 

Development measures based on the feedback are already underway. For example, feedback related to digital learning environments and the findability of study-related information is currently being utilised in ongoing development work. The executive group for bachelor’s and master’s education has also discussed ways to support student wellbeing more effectively. 

The university thanks students for the extensive, open and carefully reasoned written feedback. The feedback provides valuable and concrete information for the development of studies, the learning environment and students’ everyday life. We especially appreciate students’ willingness to raise experiences related to equality, inappropriate behaviour and discrimination, as well as related development proposals, which support the university’s continuous work to strengthen equality and diversity. 

Uniarts Helsinki collects course feedback on teaching, learning and teaching arrangements. The course feedback is collected through the Tuudo system using a standardised feedback form for all courses. 

The Uniarts Helsinki student survey (formerly the rector’s survey) collects feedback and information on the experiences and views of bachelor’s and master’s degree students as well as doctoral researchers regarding teaching, services, leadership, atmosphere, equality and non-discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour. The results are widely used across the university to identify strengths and areas for development in academies, degree programmes, services and university leadership. The survey is conducted every two years. 

The Finnish Bachelor’s Graduate Survey is a national student feedback survey that examines students’ satisfaction with their university and studying experience. The feedback is part of the university funding model: the results and response rates affect the funding received by the university. 

The Master’s and Doctoral Career Monitoring Surveys collect information on the quality and appropriateness of placement in the labour market, career development and satisfaction with the degree obtained. The Master’s Career Monitoring Survey is part of the university funding model: the results and response rates affect the funding received by the university.