Customer Story
"The development has been exciting in these eight years. From the small start in 2016 with 282 digital exams, we have now reached the point where we hardly carry out written exams of the traditional type."
Arild Sørum Hjelle, Head of Administration at NTNU
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is a leading educational institution and the largest university in Norway. Known for its strong emphasis on technology and the natural sciences, it was established in 1996 through the merger of six research and educational institutions in Trondheim. NTNU has significantly embraced digital transformation, particularly in terms of examinations.
The shift towards digital assessment at NTNU is part of a broader trend within the higher education sector in Norway. Since the joint acquisition of Inspera in 2016 through Sikt, there has been a consistent increase in the adoption of digital exams. The primary drivers for this shift include:
The implementation of digital assessments at NTNU began in 2016 with a modest start of 282 digital exams. Over the years, this initiative has expanded significantly. With the establishment of the ‘Examination House’ in Trondheim, a converted postal terminal equipped to handle up to 1,660 candidates concurrently. This facility supports up to 83 parallel exams during peak periods.
This dedicated facility included the development of a robust technical infrastructure, including power and network setups for each exam station and provision of more than 700 fixed, desktop PCs. Additional students can bring their own PCs and use the Integrity Browser to prevent access to unauthorized internet resources or files. There are also 590 digital drawing boards available for exams requiring drawing and calculations, and 443 headphones for language exams with listening components.
NTNU has seen a substantial increase in the number of digital exams, moving from 282 submissions in 2016 to digital exams across 3,488 different subjects in 2024, catering to a total of 111,633 candidates. This constitutes 68% of all examinations at the university, showcasing their commitment to modernizing assessment methods.
Looking forward, NTNU and the broader Norwegian higher education sector are preparing for the next phase of digital assessment evolution. This includes a new procurement process for digital learning environment systems and assessment providers to be announced later in 2024.
With these forward-looking steps, NTNU aims to sustain its leadership in digital assessments, continuously enhancing the examination experience for students and faculty alike.
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