Follow-up and evaluation of courses and study programmes
Lund University works continuously to develop and ensure the quality of courses and study programmes. The work is based on systematic evaluation processes, structured dialogues and the monitoring of results. These internal processes are complemented by national reviews. Together, these processes form a coherent system that strengthens and safeguards the quality of the education offered.
Evaluation of ongoing courses and study programmes
The University carries out regular and systematic evaluations to ensure and improve the quality of education at all levels. The evaluations are conducted on a six-year cycle and are carried out by a peer review panel, with input from both internal and external experts.
Student influence is a key part of the process, and is ensured by students’ participation in the faculties’ internal quality dialogues as well as in central university-wide dialogues. Students also contribute to the preparation of supporting documentation and evaluations.
The faculties are responsible for planning and carrying out the evaluations, while the overall framework is based on the University’s Quality Policy and Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement. Together, these elements create a transparent and forward-looking quality assurance framework that contributes to a strong culture of quality at the University.
You can find more information about the University’s and the faculties’ quality assurance and enhancement on the page:
Quality assurance and enhancement
Follow-up of courses and study programmes
To ensure high quality in our education, Lund University regularly monitors and evaluates its quality assurance and enhancement. This monitoring is carried out primarily through regular dialogue and course evaluations, which provide insight into how the course or study programme can be improved.
The faculties’ quality assurance and enhancement is monitored through annual dialogues between the Vice-Chancellor and faculty management. Equivalent dialogues also take place within the faculties. These dialogues provide an opportunity to jointly identify strengths, areas for improvement and any measures that need to be prioritised.
Student and doctoral student representatives are always invited to contribute their perspectives.
Under the Higher Education Ordinance, all students who are taking or have completed a course are entitled to share their experiences of the course. At Lund University, this takes the form of course evaluations, which, together with course evaluation reports, are compulsory for all courses and constitute important tools in quality assurance and enhancement.
What are course evaluations and course evaluation reports?
A course evaluation involves students taking a course sharing their views on and experiences of the course. This is often done through a questionnaire.
A course evaluation report involves compiling and documenting the views of both students and teaching staff. Other supporting documents may also be included here, such as examination results.
Course evaluations provide us with insight into how our courses work in practice and ensure that students’ experiences are addressed in a structured manner. In course evaluation reports, lecturers and students then identify areas for improvement in the course in a systematic and transparent manner.
General guidance on course evaluations and course evaluation reports
Work on course evaluations and course evaluation reports is organised locally at faculty level. The General Guidelines for Course Evaluation and Course Evaluation Reports provide faculties with support on how this work should be planned, implemented and followed up to ensure a legally sound and systematic follow-up of the quality of education.
The General Guidelines emphasise the division of responsibilities, transparency and feedback, and ensure that course evaluations are actively used in the University’s ongoing work.
National reviews
The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) receives its remit from the Government and is tasked with assessing the quality of higher education and research. The national quality assurance system is based on higher education institutions taking considerable responsibility for their internal quality assurance.
UKÄ conducts four types of review to ensure quality in Swedish higher education:
The institutional reviews focus on whether the University’s systematic quality assurance work is functioning satisfactorily in accordance with UKÄ’s criteria. At the most recent review in 2021, Lund University’s quality assurance system was approved in all assessment areas. The next review will take place in 2028.
You can read more about the review of higher education institutions’ quality assurance and enhancement here:
Under the national quality assurance system, the University is largely responsible for evaluating its courses and study programmes. In addition to the University’s internal evaluations, UKÄ reviews a selection of courses and study programmes.
At Lund University, the following programmes will be reviewed:
- 2025: Degree of Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Degree of Master of Science in Psychology
- 2026: Master of Science in Computer Engineering
- 2027: Licentiate and doctoral degrees in Nursing
- 2028: General qualifications in Business Administration
Through thematic evaluations, UKÄ examines specific strategic issues within higher education, focusing on learning and development.
In 2023-2024, a thematic evaluation of higher education institutions’ work on external engagement was carried out. You can read more about the thematic evaluation of external engagement at Lund University on the UKÄ website:
Högskolekollen – uka.se (in Swedish)
The next thematic evaluation is scheduled for 2027 and will assess student influence.
The UKÄ assesses higher education institutions’ right to award degrees by examining whether their programmes meet the requirements set out in the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance.
At Lund University this primarily concerns study programmes leading to professional qualifications. The University itself decides on other courses and study programmes.
Contact
Institutional reviews
Åsa Ekberg
Head of Office
Education Strategy Support
+46 46 222 91 68
asa [dot] ekberg [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se (asa[dot]ekberg[at]stu[dot]lu[dot]se)
Programme evaluations
Soha Kadhim
Policy officer
Education Strategy Support
+46 46 222 38 86
soha [dot] kadhim [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se (soha[dot]kadhim[at]stu[dot]lu[dot]se)
Appraisal of applications for degree-awarding powers
Sofia Carbonnier
Policy officer
Education Strategy Support
+46 46 222 45 91
sofia [dot] carbonnier [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se