Objective of course evaluation

The half-yearly evaluation of degree programme courses provides systematic insight into students' experience and assessment of teaching. The purpose of course evaluation is

• To provide systematic insight into students' experience and assessment of teaching.
• To use the evaluation results as an essential basis for
  • Organising courses,
  • Selecting teaching methods, activities and content,
• and thereby maintaining focus on supporting students' learning as well as possible.

Focus of evaluation

At Health, standard questions have been prepared for use in all course evaluations across degree programmes. The focus of the evaluation supports the university's objective to provide high-quality, coherent degree programmes in a motivating study and learning environment (see AU's quality assurance policy).

On Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, we evaluate the following aspects of teaching by asking students to assess:

1. Teaching outcome (common to all of AU)
2. The opportunity to receive feedback/guidance on academic performance during the course (common to all of Health)
3. How the structure and planning of the course support own learning (common to all of Health)
4. The scope of learning activities in relation to ECTS on the course (common to all of Health)
5. Whether the teaching format sufficiently involves and activates students (common to all of Health)
6. Whether the use of digital learning technology (inside and outside the classroom) supports own learning (common to all of Health from spring ‘23)

We therefore ask the students.

• Which parts of the course they believe have contributed to their own learning 
• For suggestions for improvement, or if there is anything they have been lacking

On further education programmes (FE), we ask how the students assess:

1. The academic interaction between students and lecturers  
2. The relevance of the programme in relation to development of own competencies 

Questions at course level

Before the start of a semester, the course coordinator can choose evaluation questions particularly relevant to the specific course.

Course evaluations at Health

Every semester, all courses with ECTS are evaluated.

This process involves:

• The course coordinator, teaching staff and students in connection with classes.
• The course coordinator and teaching teams in follow-up on the evaluation and in the planning and development of courses.
• The faculty's organisation of quality assurance – and thus:
  • The director of studies
  • The boards of studies
  • The department management team
  • The vice-dean for education

You can read more about the specific implementation and follow-up of course evaluations in the guidelines for course evaluations at Health. The purpose of these guidelines is to:

1. Support the quality development of teaching and degree programmes, both in the subject-specific environment and in the organisation of quality assurance.
2. Support the involvement of different stakeholders in the evaluation and follow-up process, and
3. Ensure coherence and relevant links between the subject-specific environments and the organisation of quality assurance.

Important for you at Health

Students

By answering the evaluation questions, students are given a voice and provide valuable feedback to everyone involved in education at the faculty. Participation in the evaluation contributes to:

• Ensuring that we maintain and develop the parts of teaching that work well
• Ensuring spotlight on the parts of teaching that we can improve

Balancing expectations between teaching staff and students at the beginning of a course, in a mid-term review and in a follow-up dialogue about course evaluation can provide students with

• An understanding of the pedagogical and didactic choices made by the teaching team for the course 
• A basis for reflection on own learning processes and those of others 

Lecturers and course coordinators

Evaluations are a development tool for teaching staff and course coordinators.

They are an opportunity to learn about how teaching and learning activities are perceived by the students. Evaluation results and dialogue with students about teaching are natural starting points for collegial sparring. This may take place in your teaching team, as a formal meeting with other course organisers or in an informal network with other close colleagues. 
Being involved in evaluation and development of own teaching and courses improves the lecturers' competencies. This is therefore also recognised according to the framework for accreditation of teaching. 

It strengthens teachers’ competencies to engage in the evaluation and development of their own teaching and entire course programmes. Therefore, it is also credit-giving in accordance with the framework for recognition of teaching.

The Centre for Educational Development (CED), which is the university's pedagogical unit, contributes with sparring on development opportunities. 

Boards of studies and directors of studies

For boards of studies and directors of studies, teaching evaluation is a tool to assure and develop the academic quality of the teaching and the degree programme.

The board of studies is responsible for following up on the evaluations in terms of content, structure, coherence, level, etc. of degree programmes. This is in collaboration with the director of studies.

The director of studies is responsible for initiating any initiatives and for following up.

Heads of department and deputy heads of department

For heads of department and deputy heads of department, the evaluations are a quality assurance and quality development tool. They focus in particular on the pedagogical/didactic competencies of teaching staff.

The head of department and the deputy head of department are responsible for following up on the evaluations in terms of staff-related matters.At department level, responses to questions applying both to AU and Health are included as an indicator of the quality of teaching on the degree programmes. The results are discussed at the annual status review meetings and in the degree programme evaluations taking place every five years. 

Our process for teaching evaluation

We evaluate all courses with ECTS every semester.

The evaluation is structured around a joint model and a number of joint questions. In this way, we can follow developments over time and compare our different courses of teaching across degree programmes.

In the procedure for teaching evaluation at Health, you can read more about the process for teaching evaluation, including your role in relation to preparation, evaluation and follow-up. 

Publication of evaluation results

We are obligated to publish parts of our evaluation results on a regular basis

Students' responses to open-ended questions are not included in the material we publish. These have been omitted to ensure the anonymity of students and teaching staff.

Do you have questions or need help?

You are welcome to contact your director of studies or Health Studies Administration, with any questions about teaching evaluation, or if you need more details about the information on this page.