At FPT Education, internal audits aren’t just a formality. They’re a key part of how the educational organization checks its systems, finds problems early, and improves how things work. This article explains what internal audits are, why they matter, and how the organization carries them out based on international standards.
Understanding internal audits
According to ISO 9000:2015:
“Internal audits, sometimes called first-party audits, are conducted by, or on behalf of, the organization itself for management review and other internal purposes, and can form the basis for an organization’s declaration of conformity. Independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from responsibility for the activity being audited.”
At FPT Education, internal audits refer to systematic and periodic assessment conducted under the Quality Management System (QMS), in compliance with current quality standards such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 21001:2018, and relevant legal regulations. This process is initiated and executed by internal organizational units.
Internal audits serve as an essential mechanism to assess the level of compliance and operational efficiency, as well as to identify non-conformities and propose corrective measures that drive systemic improvement.
Audit levels of implementation
Internal audits are deployed across three organizational levels:
- Corporation level (FPT Corporation)
- Organizational level (FPT Education)
- Constituent unit level
To ensure objectivity and breadth of insight, internal audits at FPT Education are executed as cross-audits among Quality Assurance (QA) departments across different regions. This method offers more comprehensive and independent evaluations compared to monthly quality control.
Distinguishing “internal audit” from “monthly quality control”
At FPT Education (FE), the terms internal audit and monthly quality control are clearly differentiated as follows:
| Criteria | Monthly quality control | Internal audit |
| Definition | The process by which QA personnel supervise and inspect specific units during task execution to identify areas of compliance and suggest improvements. | A systematic, periodic assessment process to determine the level of compliance and effectiveness of the quality management system |
| Timing of Execution | Conducted after an activity or task has been completed (post-check). | Conducted according to an annual internal audit plan. |
| Scope | Focused on specific units and activities. | Organization-wide. |
| Personnel Involved | QA staff assigned to each unit. | Internal audit teams involving cross-audit practices among regional units. |
Objectives of internal audits
- To fulfill the requirements of ISO 21001:2018, other applicable quality standards, and legal mandates.
- To determine the extent of compliance with established policies and procedures within the QMS.
- To promptly identify risks and prevent potential failures or losses.
- To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of process implementation and execution.
- To identify improvement opportunities that enhance overall quality.
- To support external surveillance and certification audits, ensuring smoother and more effective assessments.
Internal audits process
Step 1: Audit planning
- Developed at least once annually.
- Audit topics must be clearly defined, prioritizing systemic issues, operational weak points, or recognized pain points.
- Auditors must be trained in audit methodology, possess relevant experience, and demonstrate problem-solving capabilities.
Step 2: Audit execution
Before the audit:
- Auditors collect and review relevant documentation, including policies, procedures, and internal records.
During the audit:
- Observations and findings must be agreed upon with the audited unit during the audit session.
After the audit:
- Corrective and preventive actions are implemented to address root causes and mitigate risk.
- Follow-up audits are conducted to ensure closure of non-conformities.
Step 3: Monitoring and reporting
- Heads of Quality Assurance Board submit mid-year summaries and annual reports to university leadership.
- Findings are continuously monitored to detect recurrence patterns and inform systemic improvements.
Step 4: Continuous improvement
- Improvement actions must be proposed, implemented, reported, and properly documented after each audit cycle.
- Audit effectiveness is assessed through satisfaction surveys among audited units, with a performance target score of at least 4 out of 5.
Internal audits aren’t about finding mistakes. They help the university check how its systems are performing, make sure things are done right, and find ways to improve. At FPT Education, these audits are essential to maintaining education quality, building trust, and supporting sustainable, long-term development. They turn internal reviews into practical steps toward doing things better.