Juha Kettunen

A conceptual framework to help evaluate the quality of institutional performance

Purpose – This study aims to present a general conceptual framework which can be used to evaluate quality and institutional performance in higher education.Design/methodology/approach – The quality of higher education is at the heart of the setting up of the European Higher Education Area. Strategic management is widely used in higher education institutions and is a strong candidate for the general framework of management. The balanced scorecard approach has been designed as a mechanism to communicate and implement the strategic plan and make it more understandable to stakeholders.Findings – The concepts of quality and strategy maps provide the tools that can be used to describe the conceptual framework to describe the quality assurance system and institutional performance.Originality/value – The quality and performance of a higher education institution are evaluated by national quality assurance agencies and many other stakeholders having various objectives and interests. The evaluation is based on the b...

The strategic evaluation of academic libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyse the network strategies of academic libraries and presents an approach to the evaluation of strategic plans and their implementation.Design/methodology/approach – The balanced scorecard approach is used as a framework for organisations to communicate and implement their strategic plans.Findings – It is shown in this study that the balanced scorecard also provides a general framework for the evaluation of the strategy and performance from different perspectives.Practical implications – The concept of the strategy map is used to illustrate the objectives of the strategic plans of the consortium of libraries.Originality/value – This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of the strategic planning of libraries. The findings of the study are useful for those who seek to achieve cost‐efficiency with the increased and networked cooperation of libraries.

Management Information System Based on the Balanced Scorecard.

Purpose – This study seeks to describe the planning and implementation in Finland of a campus‐wide management information system using a rigorous planning methodology.Design/methodology/approach – The structure of the management information system is planned on the basis of the management process, where strategic management and the balanced scorecard approach have important roles.Findings – The balanced scorecard approach is useful not only in accomplishing the objectives, measures and targets of the institutional strategy but also in the planning of the management information system.Practical implications – The findings of the study are useful for educational administrators, project managers, software developers and usability specialists.Originality/value – This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of campus‐wide information systems applying the balanced scorecard approach as a basis for the management information system to translate the strategy into action.

Implementation of strategies in continuing education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide higher education institutions with strategies of continuing education and methods to communicate and implement these strategies.Design/methodology/approach – The balanced scorecard approach is used to implement the strategy. It translates the strategy into tangible objectives, measures and targets and balances them into four different perspectives: customer, finance, internal processes, and learning.Findings – The strategy of focus combined with the strategy of cost‐efficiency is applicable for higher education institutions. These strategies can be adjusted, for example, to profitable growth in continuing education.Research limitations/implications – The balanced scorecard approach can be used widely in higher education institutions and with slight modifications in other public sector organisations. The customer perspective typically includes the desired objectives in the public sector, contrary to the private sector where it is reasonable to place finance...

Strategic planning of regional development in higher education

Purpose – This study seeks to show how higher education institutions can plan regional strategies to increase their external impact on the environment.Design/methodology/approach – The balanced scorecard approach is used to provide a general framework to communicate the strategy.Findings – The approach is useful in accomplishing the strategic themes and objectives.Practical implications – The study presents an example of how higher educational institutions are able to plan their joint regional strategy.Originality/value – This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of strategic planning in the network of educational institutions. The findings of this study are useful to administrators of educational institutions aiming to plan a regional strategy and improve the external impact of institutions.

The strategic evaluation of regional development in higher education

The study analyses the role of regional development in higher education using the approach of the balanced scorecard, which provides a framework for organizations to describe and communicate their strategy. It turns out that the balanced scorecard is not only an approach for implementing the strategy, but it also provides a general framework for evaluating the strategy from the different perspectives. The study presents examples where the new evaluation approach has been used to analyse the national educational policy of regional development, regional strategies of higher education institutions and their cooperation. According to the results of the study, cooperation between higher education institutions is most important from the perspectives of learning and regional development.The study analyses the role of regional development in higher education using the approach of the balanced scorecard, which provides a framework for organizations to describe and communicate their strategy. It turns out that the balanced scorecard is not only an approach for implementing the strategy, but it also provides a general framework for evaluating the strategy from the different perspectives. The study presents examples where the new evaluation approach has been used to analyse the national educational policy of regional development, regional strategies of higher education institutions and their cooperation. According to the results of the study, cooperation between higher education institutions is most important from the perspectives of learning and regional development.

Strategies for the cooperation of educational institutions and companies in mechanical engineering

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyse the strategic planning of the Centre for Mechanical Engineering, which is a joint venture of educational institutions and companies in Southwest Finland. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the strategies of focus and cost efficiency and how the selected strategies can be adjusted according to the Centre’s place in its life cycle. The initial phase of the Centre emphasises the importance of a growth strategy. Findings – The strategies are described using the balanced scorecard approach, which allows organisations to articulate and communicate their strategies to their employees and stakeholders. Originality/value – This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of implementing strategies in higher education. An example is presented of how strategy can be described using a strategy map.

Cross‐evaluation of degree programmes in higher education

Purpose – This study seeks to develop and describe the benchmarking approach of enhancement‐led evaluation in higher education and to present a cross‐evaluation process for degree programmes.Design/methodology/approach – The benchmarking approach produces useful information for the development of degree programmes based on self‐evaluation, evaluation visits and analyses.Findings – The cross‐evaluation of degree programmes can result in recommendations not only for the improvement of the degree programme, but also for that of the whole institution and the evaluation process.Originality/value – The results of the study are useful for those who want to improve the quality culture of higher education institutions.

Strategic planning and quality assurance in the Bologna Process

Taylor and Francis Ltd PSP_A_242704. gm 10.1080/13603100701428205 Perspectives 360-3108 (pri t)/1460-7018 (online) 2 07 & Francis 1 30 002007 Dr JuhaKettu en Juha.Kettune @turkuamk.f

External and internal quality audits in higher education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the maintenance of the process‐based quality assurance system in a higher education institution.Design/methodology/approach – The paper introduces the process management as the essential element of quality assurance in higher education and discusses the external quality audit of the quality assurance agency, extends the study to the quality management between the external audits and presents the procedure of internal quality audits. Finally, the results of the study are discussed and summarised. Action research methodology was adopted in this study. The paper shows that the process‐based quality assurance system makes the organisation responsive, agile and enables the achievement of strategic objectives.Findings – The audit group must first evaluate the necessary improvements in the process. If no improvements are found, the quality deviations must be reported. The audit helps the institution take corrective actions to amend the process descriptions or mai...