Innovating in Virtual Education Since 2007: Universidad Señor de Sipán

In the realm of education, adapting to new technologies and seeking innovative solutions to ensure academic integrity are essential.

The Universidad Señor de Sipán (USS) is a private higher education institution located in Chiclayo, in the Lambayeque region of Peru. It was founded in 1999 and is named after the famous Lord of Sipán, an ancient ruler of the Moche culture, whose archaeological discovery is one of the most important in Peruvian history.

This university exemplifies how implementing technological tools can transform distance and blended learning. Over the past few years, this renowned institution has successfully integrated SMOWL, a remote proctoring tool, into its evaluation system, marking a significant milestone in its educational history.

The Need for Innovation in Virtual Education for USS

With a strong track record in distance education since 2007, USS quickly adapted to the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic in 2020. Their 13 years of prior experience allowed them to establish an evaluation protocol in just two weeks, unlike many other entities that only ventured into virtual education in 2020.

Maintaining educational quality and integrity in assessments became more critical than ever.

In response to this scenario, the Distance Education Directorate at USS, led by Mg. Silvia Sialer Carhuattocto, aims to manage platforms supporting virtual learning environments and provide support and training to academic and administrative units involved in virtual learning programs. This initiative led to the search and implementation of emerging technologies to expand their digital ecosystem and adapt to the new reality.

Choosing SMOWL for Virtual Education Evaluation

The decision to adopt SMOWL as a proctoring tool was not accidental. Since 2020, the university had become familiar with SMOWL, having had the opportunity to evaluate the tool through a free demo.

As such, their learning platform, OpenLMS, is complemented by the SMOWL solution for exam security and integrity.

Finally, in 2022, they chose SMOWL for its ability to integrate with the OpenLMS platform, administrative ease of use, and effectiveness in monitoring admission exams for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Key Features of Proctoring for Virtual Education

The implementation of SMOWL at this institution highlighted several innovative features:

• PC Monitoring: This functionality proved very useful for the institution, allowing them to monitor candidates with assurance.
• Locked Browser: These functions enabled more secure exams by preventing academic fraud without requiring candidates to download additional software, making it more practical for them.
• User Registration: Improved identification and authentication of candidates ensured that the person taking the exam was indeed who they claimed to be.
• Compliance with Regulations: The choice of specific features like webcam monitoring and audio capture met the requirements of the National Superintendency of Higher Education, ensuring legal compliance.

Benefits of SMOWL for USS Students

Adopting SMOWL+ (the plan selected by the institution) has brought multiple benefits, especially for students. Although they sometimes reported issues or details with usage, through trial evaluations they became familiar with the tool and now celebrate the following benefits:

• Identity Authentication and Fraud Prevention: The tool has allowed for user identity validation and fraud prevention during online evaluations, creating a fair and secure environment for all.
• Flexibility and Accessibility: Users can take their evaluations from any location at any time, facilitating educational continuity even under adverse circumstances.
• Resource Savings: Online evaluations have avoided costs generated by traditional assessments, optimizing both economic and time resources.

The Universidad Señor de Sipán recognizes the importance of maintaining academic integrity with tools like SMOWL, translating into higher educational quality and opportunities for students.

Silvia Sialer, Director of Distance Education

The Future of Virtual Education at USS

With over 15 years as pioneers in virtual education, USS’s experience with SMOWL has not only marked a turning point in their evaluation approach but also laid the groundwork for the future of distance and blended learning.

The institution understands the advantages of tools like SMOWL in enhancing surveillance and maintaining academic integrity, leading to higher educational quality and opportunities for their students. They aim to expand their offerings to different areas of Peru.

The Universidad Señor de Sipán has demonstrated that innovation and adaptation to new technologies are fundamental to overcoming the challenges presented by modern education.Implementing SMOWL has been a resounding success, enabling USS to offer a quality, accessible, and fair education to all its students.