The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) uses SMOWL PRO to proctor its online entrance test for international applicants. Since 2026, around 500 candidates a year sit a 90-minute Biology and Chemistry exam from home. They are supervised by two cameras, audio and computer monitoring, and LSMU’s own staff take every final decision.
For a university that trains future doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and veterinarians, academic integrity starts before the first lecture: at admission.
LSMU and SMOWL at a glance
| Institution | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Profile | Largest biomedical university in Lithuania, with a Medical Academy and a Veterinary Academy |
| Using SMOWL since | 2026 (first contact with SMOWL in 2020) |
| Use case | Online entrance test for international applicants |
| Applicants assessed per year | Around 500 |
| Applicants per exam session | 24 to 30 |
| Exam | Biology and Chemistry, 90 minutes |
| Results | Within three working days |
The challenge: integrity starts at admission
LSMU needed an entrance exam that international applicants could sit from anywhere, with results the university could fully trust. In health sciences, the people admitted today will be responsible for patient care and safety tomorrow.
LSMU was founded in 1922 and took its current form in 2010, when Kaunas University of Medicine merged with the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy. Today it is the largest university for biomedical studies in Lithuania. It has 7 faculties, 5 institutes and the largest university hospital in the country, Kaunas Clinics.
Its admissions goal has always been the same: to admit talented and capable students. What changed was technology. As remote exams became the norm for international candidates, the risks of cheating multiplied: impersonation, outside help, AI-assisted tools and unauthorised materials.
LSMU concluded that it could no longer guarantee academic integrity in admissions on its own. It needed external support to keep the process fair and secure, and to select candidates on their true abilities.
Why LSMU chose SMOWL: tested first, then scaled
LSMU’s first contact with SMOWL came in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another department used it for one major exam taken remotely: the final examination for medical students. That experience showed that online proctoring could protect the integrity of high-stakes assessments.
Years later, the International Studies Division looked for external support to secure its admissions, and it turned to SMOWL again. Instead of switching overnight, it followed a step-by-step adoption:
- First conversations and free trial licences (2025). The team contacted SMOWL and used free trial licences to test the system internally with colleagues before committing to it.
- Small-group pilot (2026). The first official entrance exam with SMOWL ran with a small group of applicants, in real exam conditions.
- Full rollout (2026). Once the results were solid, SMOWL became part of the entrance test for international applicants.
Three criteria drove the decision:
- Visibility of on-screen activity. LSMU needed to see what applicants did on their computers during the exam.
- Detailed reports after the exam. Staff wanted evidence they could review and analyse calmly, case by case.
- Reasonable pricing, aligned with the university’s needs.
How LSMU runs its proctored entrance test, step by step
LSMU combines preparation, layered supervision and quick technical support so that applicants can focus on the exam itself.
- One week before: applicants receive an invitation with instructions on how to prepare and how to access SMOWL.
- Demo test: applicants can try a practice exam first. They learn how the system works and start the real test with less stress.
- Enviro Scan: just before the exam, each applicant records a 360° video of the room, then waits for the start.
- Technical safety net: if anything fails, an emergency Zoom meeting is open so staff can fix the issue before the test begins.
- The exam: 90 minutes of Biology and Chemistry questions, supervised with SMOWL PRO: a front camera, an external camera, audio recording and Computer Monitoring.
- Results: when they finish, applicants are told that results will be published within three working days.
What SMOWL detects, and who decides
SMOWL gives LSMU evidence; LSMU’s staff make the decision. That balance is what makes the process both rigorous and fair.
In LSMU’s entrance tests, SMOWL has helped staff identify:
- A second monitor connected to the computer
- AI-assisted tools
- Copying of exam questions and screenshots
- Communication with other people, in the room or online
- Unauthorised people present in the room
- Applicants temporarily leaving the exam environment
Staff value being able to see on-screen activity, mouse clicks, camera evidence and application use. This transparency helps them judge the integrity of each exam with confidence.
No alert becomes a sanction automatically. When a case is unclear, LSMU reviews the evidence and works with the SMOWL technical team to investigate it. The goal is explicit: no applicant should ever be unfairly accused of academic misconduct.
“SMOWL has helped us make our online entrance exams fairer and easier to monitor. Although there was a learning curve at the beginning, it has become a valuable part of our admissions process.”
Simona Černiauskienė, Head of International Studies Division, LSMU
Advice for universities introducing exam proctoring
LSMU recommends SMOWL to other universities, with one honest piece of advice: plan time for the learning curve.
- Start small. Test internally, use trial exams and pilot with a small group before a full rollout.
- Prepare applicants. Clear instructions a week ahead and a demo test reduce stress and technical issues on exam day.
- Invest time in reviewing reports. The value of proctoring lies in how carefully staff analyse the evidence.
- Keep a human in the loop. Investigate unclear cases with the provider’s support before reaching any conclusion.
LSMU plans to keep using SMOWL for its entrance test in the coming years.
Want to see another example? Read how UVVG, a university of reference in Romania, protects its online exams with SMOWL.
“The process can be challenging at the beginning, and you need to invest time in analysing reports and getting to know the system. But with each new case our knowledge and experience grow, and the process becomes more efficient and effective.”
Urtė Stankaitytė, International Programme Coordinator, LSMU
Frequently asked questions
Which exam does LSMU proctor with SMOWL?
LSMU proctors its online entrance test for international applicants with SMOWL PRO. It is a 90-minute Biology and Chemistry exam taken remotely.
How many applicants take the LSMU online entrance test?
Around 500 applicants a year, in sessions of 24 to 30 candidates each.
How does LSMU prevent cheating in its online entrance exam?
Applicants complete a 360° Enviro Scan of the room before starting. During the exam they are supervised with a front camera, an external camera, audio recording and Computer Monitoring.
Does SMOWL decide whether an applicant has cheated?
No. SMOWL provides evidence and reports. LSMU’s staff review every case and take the final decision, with support from the SMOWL team when a case needs investigating.
Since when has LSMU used SMOWL for its entrance test?
Since 2026, after evaluating it with free trial licenses in 2025. LSMU’s first contact with SMOWL dates back to 2020, when another department used it for one remote final exam in Medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can online proctoring detect the use of AI tools?
Yes. In LSMU’s entrance tests, SMOWL has helped staff identify AI-assisted tools, second monitors, screenshots and communication with other people.
