The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has taken note of the concerns raisedby students of some universities that their examinations should beconducted online.
The apprehensions of students were reviewed carefully in consultation withthe Vice-Chancellors of all the provinces and regions, keeping in view thedifficulties brought about by the pandemic and opening of universities fromFebruary 01, 2021.
In this policy, HEC already allowed universities to use their discretion toconduct exams, either on-campus or online, as long as the chosen modeprovides a fair assessment of students’ performance. Universities shouldtake stock of their “exam readiness,” i.e., technological readiness,managerial capacity, and the announced policy, and choose the best possiblemode of assessment.
HEC Guidance on Assessment and Examinations is available at the followinglink.link
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The online exams either can be used if the universities administer ‘OpenBook Exams’ or establish an invigilation system in a supervisedenvironment. In this mode, universities will also have to use ‘Turnitin’ tocheck the similarity index with the Web and the answers of other students.Further, a viva/oral exam may be integrated into the assessment wherenecessary.
On-campus exams can be used only under strict compliance with all COVID-19health and safety protocols. Universities may also have to organize make-upclasses for two weeks, in case students consider the course coverage to bedeficient. Assessment of all courses requiring psychomotor skills, such asmedicine, engineering, subjects involving lab/studio work, must be held oncampus.
All students in a single course will be examined in the same mode, i.e.,either online or on-campus.
Since March 2020, HEC has been continuously monitoring the pandemicsituation and coordinated with the universities to minimize academicdisruption and continue online education with quality safeguards. The HECGuidance on Online Readiness and Assessments and Examinations are availableon the HEC website and provide the requirements and minimum standards to beobserved by universities.