Quality assurance and enhancement

Quality assurance and enhancement at Lund University is based on the University’s strategic plan and policy for quality assurance and quality enhancement. It is also based on the national quality assurance system that the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) is responsible for. The national system is based on the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European higher education area (ESG).  

Policy for quality assurance and quality enhancement

Lund University strives to achieve the highest level of education quality, with learning environments characterised by both education and research. The University shall distinguish itself for its excellent study environment and good educational support. 

Lund University’s policy for quality assurance and quality enhancement describes the University’s cohesive system for quality assurance and enhancement. The policy is based on three main processes:

• Establishment and discontinuation of courses and study programmes
• Evaluation of ongoing courses and study programmes
• Follow-up of quality enhancement work and its results, including course evaluations and course evaluation reports

The policy describes the starting points for this work, who is to do what, and why. The policy applies to all education at Lund University, but the quality assurance processes may differ depending on the type of education in question.

Regulations for quality assurance and quality enhancement of education at Lund University complements the policy with details on the allocation of responsibilities, evaluation cycles etc. The regulations include the duties assigned to the faculties by the vice-chancellor.

Common starting points

The courses and study programmes at the different faculties at Lund University differ considerably. At the same time, the quality assurance and enhancement methods and processes need to be fit for purpose. Common starting points for quality, combined with freedom for the faculties to adapt the work according to their needs, provide a coherent quality assurance system with room for diversity.

Lund University’s policy for quality assurance and quality enhancement provides some university-wide starting points. The starting points, combined with the faculties’ freedom to adapt the work to their needs, provide a cohesive quality assurance system with scope for diversity. These are intended to guide quality assurance and enhancement across the University. 

Following are some examples:

• the quality assurance activities carried out are to be fit for purpose and systematic
• the quality assurance and enhancement work is to be based on laws and regulations, and other agreements and regulatory documents
• a good quality culture where everyone feels involved, responsible and committed to the work carried out is to be present at the University
• peer review with external experts is to be a norm in the quality enhancement work 
• student influence is central, therefore, students and doctoral students are to be given opportunities to participate in the planning, execution and follow-up of the quality enhancement work
• openness and transparency are to characterise quality enhancement work at Lund University

Quality criteria

The policy also lists the quality criteria that are the basis for the quality assessments of the courses and study programmes and that are to guide all quality assurance work at Lund University. Regardless of the quality process design, it is to meet the eleven criteria.

Responsibilities

The vice-chancellor has overall responsibility for the quality of education at the University. According to Lund University’s rules of procedure, the faculty board has overall responsibility for quality and development work within its organisation. The university-wide boards have an overall responsibility for strategic education matters at Lund University, including quality matters, within their respective areas of responsibility.

• Education Board
• Research Programmes Board

Support

The Education Strategy Support at the Division of Student Affairs offers advice and support on quality assurance in education and develops methods and tools within the field.

The office is also responsible for facilitating knowledge and experience exchange between the faculties, as well as carrying out university-wide investigations that provide empirical documentation for the quality assurance work. 

Education Strategy Support

Training and development in teaching and learning in higher education is carried out in several locations across Lund University. The responsibility lies with the faculties and several faculties have their own units for training in teaching and learning in higher education.

At the University, there is also a Division for Higher Education Development (AHU), which offers university-wide training in teaching and learning in higher education and conducts higher education development and research.   

Courses in teaching and learning in higher education on the AHU website