The Catholic University of Ávila (UCAV) is an institution located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and Christian humanist values.
It is also a benchmark in online education, offering flexibility to students who balance their studies with other responsibilities.
Founded in 1996, UCAV has once again demonstrated its leadership and forward-looking vision by adopting cutting-edge technological solutions like SMOWL to ensure integrity in its academic assessments.
In this post, we’ll share the key takeaways from this successful collaboration.
UCAV: A recognized and award-winning university
In addition to its holistic education model, UCAV stands out for its high employability, ranking second in the overall employability ranking according to U-Ranking 2023. It offers a wide variety of academic programs, including 21 bachelor’s degrees and 25 master’s programs, with recent additions such as a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy and a Bachelor’s in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (CAFYD), as well as a PhD program.
Internationally, UCAV promotes student mobility through exchange programs, welcoming students from different parts of the world.
The university has also been recognized for its educational quality, appearing on lists of the best universities to study at in Spain and receiving awards such as the Blackboard Catalyst Awards. In addition, it maintains a strong focus on research and development, collaborating on meaningful projects that drive technological and social progress.
UCAV and SMOWL: A strategic alliance for online exam assessment
Through its collaboration with SMOWL, a leader in proctoring technology solutions, UCAV has implemented the SMOWL CLASS and SMOWL PRO plans across its programs—marking a significant milestone in its commitment to educational quality.
UCAV’s assessment system has evolved to meet the changing needs of modern education, offering solutions for both in-person and virtual environments.
In fact, SMOWL CLASS has played a key role in improving the learning experience in physical classrooms, while SMOWL PRO has provided a secure and reliable platform for taking online exams.
SMOWL CLASS for in-person proctoring at UCAV
UCAV’s choice of SMOWL CLASS responds to a fundamental need in today’s education: ensuring academic integrity in in-person settings.
While implementing technology solutions for online assessment has been a priority in recent years, the importance of maintaining security and reliability standards in assessments conducted in physical classrooms should not be underestimated.
SMOWL CLASS offers a comprehensive solution to address these challenges in on-campus education.
By providing an exam monitoring platform on students’ computers, SMOWL CLASS has enabled instructors to effectively monitor that only authorized tools are used during exams—thereby safeguarding the integrity of the assessment process.
This integration has been key to ensuring academic continuity during challenging times, while also delivering a robust and effective solution for assessment in an increasingly digital world.
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SMOWL PRO for remote exam proctoring
The SMOWL PRO plan has been a catalyst for UCAV’s digital transformation, enabling remote exams with an unprecedented level of security.
One of the key requirements for this implementation was the need for two cameras, ensuring the integrity of the testing environment.
The transition to online assessment has not been without challenges, but UCAV has demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and make the most of available technological tools.
With SMOWL PRO in place, the university has been able not only to guarantee academic integrity, but also to optimize the experience for both students and instructors in virtual environments.
UCAV and its academic community: A commitment to online education and remote proctoring
UCAV’s academic community has responded positively to the implementation of SMOWL. “SMOWL has given us reliability,” says Noelia Gutiérrez Martín, Director of the Data Processing Center.
The presence of a second camera has been especially valued, adding an extra layer of security and peace of mind for both students and instructors.
In addition to strengthening academic integrity, SMOWL has eased UCAV staff workload by reducing the need for in-person exam supervisors and enabling more efficient resource management.
This operational efficiency—together with the option to run practice tests before the final exam—has been particularly important at a time when the academic community has had to adapt quickly to new forms of teaching and assessment.
SMOWL has allowed us to administer online exams without major issues, because students were able to test the tool beforehand and take their exams with full integrity.
Noelia Gutiérrez Martín, Director of the Data Processing Center.
UCAV’s Blackboard platform and SMOWL: A powerful combination
SMOWL’s integration with UCAV’s learning management platform, Blackboard, has been another standout aspect of this collaboration. Optimizing the integration through LTI has significantly streamlined administrative processes and improved the experience for both LMS administrators and instructors.
This synergy between cutting-edge educational technology and established platforms has been essential to the successful rollout of SMOWL at UCAV.
In conclusion, the Catholic University of Ávila continues to demonstrate its commitment to educational innovation and academic excellence through its partnership with SMOWL.
This collaboration not only ensures integrity in assessments, but also strengthens UCAV’s position as a leading institution in providing a holistic education for its students.
By investing in academic integrity and technological innovation, UCAV positions itself as a benchmark in higher education—preparing students for the challenges of the workforce with a high-quality, well-rounded education rooted in the humanist tradition.Do you think SMOWL could be a good fit for your institution as well?
If so, we invite you to take a look at our proctoring plans and request a free demo, where you can try the tool with no obligation.
