On this page you find brief descriptions of the quality work carried out at the University, as well as associated regulations, governance and support documents.

The Swedish Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance regulate Malmö University’s activities. The Higher Education Act states that our activities must lead to high quality in both education and research, as well as that quality work is a common concern for the staff and students of higher education institutions.

The University's Rules of Procedure describe the division of responsibilities for the quality work:

  • the University Board has the ultimate responsibility for the University’s operations and quality of education
  • the faculty boards are responsible for monitoring the quality of education, research and collaboration
  • the Dean has an overall responsibility for the direction and quality of education, research and collaboration
  • the Head of Department or equivalent promotes high quality in the department's activities

The University's overall governance document is Strategy 2025. This document describes the overall quality objective for the University.

More on Strategy 2025

University-wide quality work

The university-wide quality work includes several elements, referred to as quality components, aiming to develop the quality of the organisation. The components differ depending on whether they relate to bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral level education, or research. Quality dialogues are one common component.

Monitoring of the quality of activities is carried out through annual faculty quality dialogues between the University Management and the respective faculty managements, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CAKL), the University Library and the Joint University Administration and Services. Quality dialogues are one of the links between quality assurance and strategic management. A university-wide report is compiled annually and reported to the University Board.

Education-related quality work

Continuous education-related quality work is one of the basic components for developing and ensuring the quality of education provided by the University. The five faculties and the University's libraries decide how the continuous quality work is to be carried out within their own activities, on the basis of:

  • that university-wide policy documents are followed
  • there is a documented approach to quality development in bachelor’s and master’s level education, which includes systematic reviews
  • that follow-up is carried out and feedback gathered annually in the form of quality dialogues at departmental, faculty and senior management levels.

Read more about the faculties' education-related quality work on our staff website

Study programme evaluations

Our study programmes are evaluated both within the University and through external reviews by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ). In 2016, the Swedish parliament decided on a new evaluation system. Previously, UKÄ reviewed the attainment of learning outcomes in degree projects. The new system entails UKÄ also reviewing the University's quality assurance work in education. At Malmö University, we work continuously on course and programme evaluations and follow up on their results in various forums.

Student influence

Working continuously to improve and develop student influence is one of the cornerstones of quality enhancement work at Malmö University. We encourage students to take an active role in the further development of their education. The students' participation in the implementation, evaluation and development of education is crucial in ensuring its quality. Student influence is an important tool for the University's work in promoting democratic values; student co-determination reinforces both the study environment and the students' learning processes. There are three student unions at Malmö University: the Malmö Student Union, the Dentistry Student Union and the Malmö Doctoral Student Union.

Systematic follow-up

In order to ensure that the University meets external demands for educational quality and internally formulated principles for quality, systematic follow-ups are regularly carried out. The University's study programmes are continuously audited through measures such as course and programme evaluations and student and alumni surveys. In addition, several key performance indicators are regularly monitored, including the number of applicants per study place, admissions, as well as completion of courses and degrees. The results of the evaluations, surveys and quality enhancing initiatives are discussed in various educational bodies at the University, in which students are also represented. 

Research ethics

The Advisory Board for Research Ethics works both strategically and operationally to promote good research practice. The work ranges from monitoring changes in regulations, disseminating information and initiating educational activities on research ethics to handling cases of suspected research misconduct and coordinating support in matters related to ethical reviews of research applications.

Read more about research ethics on the staff website

Contact

Are you a researcher at Malmö University or about to start a research project? Are you a funder, collaborator, or manager with questions about research ethics or research misconduct? Contact the Advisory Board for Research Ethics.

The Advisory Board for Research Ethics

forskningsetikradet@mau.se