On June 27, 2023 an international interactive seminar "Smart Future of Education: Online Assessment and Proctoring" was held in person and online at Liepaja University (LiepU). The aim of which was to share the results of an Erasmus+ strategic partnership project "Online Proctoring Manager – further education program for supporting digital transformation in higher education institutions" (PROWIDE). This is the second dissemination event which is organised in each of the partner countries involved in the project, the previous one was held at Anadolu University in Turkey.
In total 40 participants from various higher education institutions, lifelong learning and career centers, general education and vocational schools, IT and software development companies, which provide distance learning services in their institutions, took part during the event.
Several speakers were presenting the results of the project: Patriks Morevs, Specialist in International Relations Department of Liepaja University presented how the project is has progressed and what is effective online assessment; Thomas Fetsch, CEO of Proctorio GmbH, gave an overview of the practices and benefits of online proctoring and monitoring in education; Dr. Cengiz Hakan Aydin from Anadolu University in Turkey shared his university's practical experience in implementing the project; Advisor of Foreign full-time degree student admissions from the University of Latvia presented the challenges of online examination of foreign students and Nelda Mikanova, Senior Expert at the Erasmus+ Programme Department of the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), presented the latest Erasmus+ strategic partnership projects this year followed by discussions of the future projects.
A group of experts from four universities (Fachhochschule des Mittelstands in Germany; International University of Telematics (UNIETTUNO) in Italy; Anadolu University in Turkey and Liepaja University in Latvia) together with a software company “Proctorio GmbH’’ from Germany have developed a qualification profile and an associated open online training programme for a new role in any higher education institution - "Online Proctoring Manager" - which can be used to train anyone who would like to acquire the skills for this qualification. The aim of the seminar was to present the results of the project - the profile of the qualification and the training programme developed, the modules for its implementation, the relevance of such a qualification in today's higher education, current practical experiences and the challenges faced by different higher education institutions in delivering online education.
Sintija Bruže, the project assistant of Prowide, Senior specialist of International Relations Department, expressed her satisfaction with the seminar, saying that she was pleased with the active interest of the event participants in the project, as participants from countries such as India, South Africa, Armenia and others also participated in the seminar online and asked various practical questions. The discussion held after the seminar confirmed the need and relevance of an online proctoring system all over the world, because online learning is becoming more and more popular and, therefore, it is necessary to promote a greater understanding of innovative solutions with additional quality. In the future we hope to spread the knowledge of PROWIDE benefits even wider.
More Information about the PROWIDE project can be found here: https://www.proctoring-manager.eu/
The project PROWIDE is financed by the financement of Erasmus+ strategic partnership project No 2020-1-DE01-KA226-005765.