Assessment and Criteria

Assessment Criteria

The instructions given by VAMK University of Applied Sciences about assessment of learning in the quality assurance manual and process descriptions are used in assessment.

Assessment is performed by comparing the student’s attainment with the learning outcomes in the curriculum. The tasks in an exam must include a balance between easy, medium and challenging in such a way that each category includes one third of the tasks. Easy tasks refer to tasks that every student who has participated in the instruction should be able to complete and correspondingly difficult tasks are the ones the completion of which requires excellent or good skills and knowledge.

Grade scale

Completion of study periods is assessed by a grading scale of Excellent (5), Good (4-3), Pass (2-1), Fail (0). In exceptional cases the scale with Pass (HYV)/Fail (0) is applied. With regard to the second national language, the grades granted by the University of Applied Sciences, marked 1-3 correspond to Satisfactory and 4-5 to Good within public administration.

Decision on assessment, registration and giving information

By means of assessment, the attainment of the objectives of the study periods is directed and verified. Criteria for assessment are based on the objectives of the study period. The student must receive at the beginning of the study period full particulars on the criteria applied. The student also has the right to be informed about the application of assessment criteria on the study performance. The student’s right and obligation to participate in the teaching is defined in the assessment plans per study period.The student completes the study unit according to the requirements given in the plan of the study unit. The required performances related to the study unit have to be completed within two semesters following the end of the study unit.The student must get the assessment recorded in the student administration database within one month from the completion of the performance.

The students can follow and check up the grades they have received through the student database PEPPI.
The follow-up presupposes that the student has enrolled in attendance and that the student has the required username. In case the username/password has been forgotten, this can be renewed at the study affairs office.

Rectification of assessment

The student has the right to receive information on the assessment criteria applied on their own performance. An account on the assessment is supplied by the teacher who has made the assessment.

The student who is not satisfied with the assessment and the feedback given can submit a rectification claim in accordance with Degree board regulation and process.

Cheating in exams and assignments

Fraudulent activity in exams, submission of assignments and plagiarism of assignments/thesis is prohibited at VAMK based on the degree regulations. Depending on the situation, the consequences of cheating and plagiarism are either a notification from the Director of School, a warning from the rector or a temporary suspension.

Disciplinary measures are also in connection with scholarship criteria. Scholarships can be revoked for the whole duration of study right if student receives written warning.

Depending on the misconduct, the process is as follows:

Academic dishonesty has been demonstrated in an individual assessment task

The teacher rejects the performance and explains to the student why.
Information about a failed performance is marked for implementation in Peppi
The student retakes the failed attainment or the cheating is taken into account in the assessment as indicated by the teacher.

Repeated academic dishonesty in assignments or cheating in exams or final assessments

The teacher communicates the situation to Student Services, the Head of Education and Research and the Director of School.
The Head of Education and Research asks the student and the teacher to write a statement about the incident.
If the evidence of cheating is indisputable, Student Services prepares a memorandum based on the written statement of the teacher and the student, which is signed by the Director of School and the author of the hearing memorandum. After signing the memorandum, Student Services will inform the student by an encrypted e-mail message, and the information about the notification will be recorded in Peppi.
If the evidence of cheating is disputed, Student Services will prepare an invitation to a separate hearing based on the description. Student Services will send an invitation to the hearing to the student in question (face-to-face meeting or Teams meeting). The invitation describes the matter of the hearing and a description of the case, the title of the invitation is “Hearing”). The hearing will be attended by the student, teacher, Head of Education and Research and Director of School. The student can also ask another person to support them (this will be stated in the invitation to the hearing).
In the oral hearing, the chair of the hearing is the Director of School, and the secretary is a representative of Student Services. A memorandum (student services) will be drawn up on the hearing, which the student will have 3 working days to comment on. The memorandum is signed electronically by the Director of School and the secretary of the hearing.
Based on the statements of the student and the teacher and the hearing, the Director of School decides whether to issue a notification to the student. The note is signed by the memorandum, which includes a proposal for a decision. The director confirms the decision by signing the memorandum.
Student Services will notify the student of the decision by email as an encrypted message.
An entry is made in the additional information on the study right in the Student Services (Peppi)
The student retakes the failed attainment, possibly on a new topic. The teacher sets the schedule for the replay.

If repeated academic dishonesty occurs in assignments or in the thesis

The teacher communicates the situation to Student Services, the Head of Education and Research and the Director of School.
If the evidence of cheating is indisputable, Student Services prepares a memorandum based on the written statement of the teacher and the student, which is signed by the Director of School and the author of the hearing memorandum. The Director of School makes a proposal to the Rector to issue a possible warning after a written hearing for disciplinary proceedings in accordance with section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. A memorandum on the written hearing of the student is attached to the proposal.
If the evidence of cheating is disputed, Student Services will prepare an invitation to an oral hearing based on the description . Student Services will send an invitation to the hearing to the student in question (face-to-face meeting or Teams meeting); the invitation describes the matter of the hearing and the description of the case, the title of the invitation is “Hearing”). The hearing will be attended by the student, the teacher, the Head of Education and Research and the Director of School. The student can also ask another person to support them (this will be stated in the invitation to the hearing). A memorandum is made of the hearing, the student has 3 working days to comment on the memorandum, after which the chair and secretary of the hearing sign the memorandum electronically.
The Director of the Unit makes a proposal to the Rector to issue a possible warning after the hearing for disciplinary proceedings in accordance with section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. A memorandum on the student’s hearing is attached to the proposal.
The principal decides on the warning and makes a separate D decision, which is recorded in the case management system.
The decision is sent to the parties concerned for information (encrypted email to the student) and saved in Valmu with the memo. Correspondingly, the additional information on the study right is marked in the Student Services (Peppi)
The student takes the failed attainment again, on a new topic.

If academic dishonesty continues despite of hearing and written warning

Student Services will compile the background to the hearing for the invitation to the hearing.
Student Services will invite the student in question to a hearing. The hearing will be attended by the teacher, the Head of Education and Research and the Director of School. The Director of School will chair the event. A representative of Student Services acts as the secretary of the event. The student can also ask another person to support them (this will be stated in the invitation to the hearing).
A memorandum is made of the hearing, the student has 3 working days to comment on the memorandum, after which the chair and secretary of the hearing sign the memorandum electronically, and the memorandum is delivered to the rector.
The Rector makes a proposal to the Board of the University of Applied Sciences for the dismissal of a student for a fixed period, but not more than one year, in accordance with section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act.
The Board decides on the suspension of a student for a fixed period.
Information about the dismissal is also recorded in the Peppi system, and the decision and memorandum are saved in Valmu.

Misconducts in Cross-institutional Studies

Cross-institutional studies (the studies are organised by VAMK). During the completion of the studies, the student works under the administrative authority of the host university (VAMK) within the limited right to study. Cheating in an exam/assignment will lead to disqualification. In addition, the student’s home university is notified of cheating.
Cross-institutional studies (the studies are organised by another higher education institution). The higher education institution organising the studies is responsible for immediate disciplinary action in cases of fraud. However, the cheating of a VAMK student, proven at another higher education institution, may lead to disciplinary action at the home university (VAMK), depending on the severity of the cheating, e.g. a reprimand/warning/temporary suspension.
EXAM visit (at VAMK). Cases of cheating are reported to the home university.