UniHow – supporting the quality of learning in higher education institutions
How does UniHow help improve the quality of learning? Discover how regular feedback helps higher education institutions and supports students.
Higher education institutions have long sought ways to improve learning. The UniHow system, developed together by the University of Helsinki and Funidata, offers a research-based tool that makes the quality of learning a shared responsibility across the whole institution.
When higher education institutions systematically collect feedback and respond to it, better results are achieved: students succeed in their studies, and the institution can help its students succeed.
"The quality of learning does not arise or develop on its own. It requires researched-based knowledge, further research, and continuous development," says Anna Parpala, docent of university pedagogy at the University of Helsinki. UniHow makes this work concrete by regularly collecting feedback from students, teachers, and doctoral researchers.
Feedback during studies matter
Traditionally, feedback has been collected only after courses end – when it is already too late to influence the learning experience. UniHow changes this by gathering feedback throughout the teaching process. This gives the higher education institution accurate information about which areas of teaching need to be developed.
According to Parpala, the system shows how students learn and what can be done to support them. This enables concrete solutions, such as the promotion of systematic studying.
Personalised feedback for students
UniHow is based on higher education pedagogical research. Each student receives personalised feedback based on their answers. This helps them recognise their study habits and develop their study skills.
"Sometimes, thinking that you are organised may not be the truth. UniHow provides feedback that helps you develop your own organizational skills to advance your studies," Parpala says.
Making studying more systematic
With UniHow, feedback turns into concrete action: students can regularly reflect on their study methods and higher education institutions can connect them directly to support services.
How well students are able to plan their study time is often linked to how well they progress in their studies and how well they cope with the workload. UniHow provides higher education institutions with information about the different needs of their students, enabling them to offer the right kind of support.
Feedback that drives institutional development
Student feedback also supports teaching planning and administrative decision-making. For example, if a particular degree program has many students who have difficulty with the planning of their studies, the curriculum can be modified to better meet their needs. "These are concrete quality measures that are important in supporting the quality of higher education and learning," says Parpala.
Want to know more? Watch the video (in Finnish) to learn how UniHow helps higher education institutions improve the quality of learning.