The Master programme European Social Security at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven provides a specialised, highly research based study of social security. This post-graduate programme combines electronic long-distance learning from home with two short stays of ten days each at the K.U.Leuven.

In October students come to Leuven for two weeks to give all participants the same starting basis. Afterwards students go back to their home country. They are supported online by the teachers. In April students again come to Leuven .

For taking their exams, students have different options: they can do an open book exam online, or do a written exam in a remote coordination centre under the supervision of a contact person, or do an oral exam when they are in Leuven .

However, in the academic year 2007-2008, the organisers of the Master felt the need to organise exams at a distance (e-assessment). Some students were coming from countries where there is neither a contact person nor an exam centre. Furthermore, for a Master exam it became obligatory to do the exam orally. And finally, there were some courses for which an open book exam was simply not the most suitable format.

In January 2008, the exams for one of the courses within the Master were organised for the first time through webconferencing (FlashMeeting).

Experiences with this technology proved to be very positive. The quality of the exam was considered to be the same as that of a face-to-face oral exam and the possibility of recording the exam and watching it afterwards for a second time was considered to be a plus.

However, the way of doing exams through webconferencing is most suited for smaller groups of students. The organisation of the exams was intensive in terms of needed time and staff, both in the preparatory phase (planning) as during the exam itself (support). It also takes time for both the student and teacher to get used to the medium. And obviously, also connectivity problems are inevitable and can be a big challenge for the organisation of such exams at a distance.

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