Spotlight Series 'Security in digital exams - A joint responsibility'

Welcome to our 'Spotlight Series'

In our Spotlight Series - a sequence of 4 high-impact conversations with experts - we try to solve the real-world hurdles you face every day when organising high-stakes exams. In this episode, titled 'Security in digital exams — A joint responsibility', we explore why exam integrity is a team effort.

Why join us?

Forget scripted interviews. These are raw, "client-in-the-spotlight" conversations guided by an expert host. We’re bringing you behind the scenes with exam leaders to share:

• Real stories: The honest challenges of transitioning to and scaling digital exams.
• Practical decisions: Why specific security paths were chosen and how they work in practice.
• Transferable lessons: Actionable takeaways you can apply to your own organization immediately.

Join us for an honest dialogue on what it takes to protect the integrity of your exams.

Session 1: 'The new fraud landscape: exam security as a joint responsibility'

Monday 16 February - 11.00 (CET) - Duration: 30 minutes

Digital exam fraud has evolved, and the "locked door" approach is no longer enough. In this kickoff session, we move past theory to show you exactly how the risk landscape has shifted and how to build a practical operating model that spreads responsibility across your entire team.

• Panelists: Andrew Balch (Certisense) & York Press
• Host: Leslie Cottenje, General Manager assessmentQ

Why you should attend

• Identify the gaps: Map out how fraud risks differ between remote proctoring and on-site digital exams.
• Stop working in silos: Learn how to implement a "Shared Responsibility" model where tech, process, and people all play their part.
• Get the framework: Walk away with the assessmentQ 'Secure-at-Heart 5-step framework' for immediate implementation.
• Actionable first steps: Leave with three specific tasks you can do tomorrow to harden your exam security.

Session 2: 'To lock or not to lock? The exam security trade-off'

Monday 23 February - 11.00 (CET) - Duration: 30 minutes

Is a lockdown browser a silver bullet or a barrier to student experience? In this session, we go beyond the tech specs to look at the Campus POV. We’ll explore the real-world friction of securing remote exams and how to decide if a lockdown approach is a "must-have" or total overkill for your specific context.

• Panelist: Campus POV (The University perspective)
• Host: Aäron Claerhout, Product Owner assessmentQ

Why you should attend

• Identify real fraud patterns: Hear which cheating routes were the hardest to detect and what actually changed after implementation of a lockdown browser.
• Master the trade-offs: Get honest about the tension between high security and student UX, fairness, and accessibility.
• Build your decision logic: Learn how to decide exactly what to "lock" and what to leave open based on your exam’s high-stakes impact.
• Communicate for trust: Discover how to frame security measures so they feel fair to candidates rather than punitive.
• Shared responsibility in practice: See how tech enforces the rules, but your processes and candidate prep provide the actual defensibility.

Session 3: 'Fraud creativity in remote exams. How to respond?'

Monday 2 March - 11.00 (CET) - Duration: 30 minutes

Remote exams offer global reach, but they also open the door to sophisticated fraud - from "off-screen help" to evolving AI tools. In this session, we sit down with NAATI to move beyond basic proctoring and dive into the playbooks required to detect, escalate, and defend high-stakes results in a remote environment.

• Panelist: NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters)
• Host: Pieter Pangat, Research Lead / R&D Engineer assessmentQ

Why you should attend

• Deconstruct modern fraud: Hear real-world wild cases, from hidden earbuds to AI, and learn which bahaviour is the hardest to spot.
• Build a defensible playbook: Map the journey from the first 'red flag' to a final, legally sound decision.
• Navigate detection ethics: Learn to balance strict security with the 'innocent until proven guilty' principle to avoid false positives.
• The AI arms race: Discover how to adapt exam design as AI models evolve to tackle even the most complex subject matter.
• Shared responsibility: See how NAATI blends tech signals with human judgment for a 'secure-at-heart' approach.

Session 4: 'Integrity in the exam hall: on-site fraud prevention'

Monday 9 March - 11.00 (CET) - Duration: 30 minutes

Digital doesn't always mean remote. High-stakes exams in physical halls face their own evolving threats, from high-tech devices to classic impersonation. In this session, Oxford Education takes us inside the exam hall to discuss how modern supervision stays fair, firm, and fully defensible.

• Panelist: Oxford Education
• Host: Laurent Delaere, Head Of Customer Success assessmentQ

Why you should attend

• Expose modern fraud: Hear real-world cases and how physical cheating patterns have shifted recently.
• Proactive supervision: Identify non-negotiable practices before, during, and after exams to stop issues before they start.
• Evidence-based response: Learn what 'rock-solid proof' looks like and how to handle disputes consistently.
• Balance control & calm: Maintain strict integrity without creating a high-friction or punitive candidate experience.
• The on-site playbook: Get 4–5 core principles to ensure your physical exam results remain trusted and defensible.