August kicked off with a milestone moment for us as we held our first ever VICTVS Conference – an event that brought together experts in assessment and academic integrity, VICTVS head office staff, and members of our global network.  Our goal was to create a space where VICTVS and other professionals could come together to explore the most pressing challenges in assessment – from the rise of AI-enabled cheating, to the complexities of exam design and reasonable adjustments.

After a welcome address from VICTVS CEO Ben Clayson, we heard from a range of guest speakers: 

• Niamh Pierce, Head of Research, the Assessment Security Research Group (ASRG) 

• Kirsty Parkinson, Assessment Development Manager, CIPS 

• Emily Hart, Operations Implementation Lead, VICTVS 

• Adrian Richardson, Assessments Manager, School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham 

• Wassim Mekerri, VICTVS Global Network member  

• And our keynote speaker, Michael Walford-Williams 

The day also included a compelling panel discussion on the hot topic of reasonable adjustments.

‘Devices of Deception’ 

One of the day’s most memorable talks came from Niamh Pierce, Head of Research at ASRG, the research division of VICTVS.  In her presentation, Niamh explored the growing use of both wearable and non-wearable tech to help candidates cheat during in-person exams, highlighting some of the readily available tools now being marketed to candidates via platforms like TikTok. 

Midway through her talk, Niamh shocked the audience by revealing she’d been wearing multiple cheating devices the entire time.  These included: a discreet button-hole camera, a pen doubling as a camera, and a pair of smart glasses with teleprompter-style lenses which she had been using to deliver her entire talk. 

This was an important reminder of how sophisticated cheating technology is becoming, and why proactive detection strategies and staff training are more important now than ever. 

Niamh explores these issues in greater detail in ASRG’s latest whitepaper, ‘Devices of Deception: The Cheating Tools Undermining Assessment Integrity’.  You can find out more about ASRG’s work and become a member here.  

Designing for Integrity and Delivering Globally 

Next, Kirsty Parkinson from CIPS gave an insightful talk on assessment design, highlighting how thoughtful assessment construction can make cheating more difficult, and ensure that exams are fair and meaningful. 

As AI use in coursework grows, exam design has become a key topic in protecting assessment integrity.  It’s now more important than ever to explore alternative assessment methods that limit opportunities to rely on AI. 

Kirsty gave examples of different methods of assessment, their pros and cons, as well as the potential threat posed by AI or other modes of malpractice.  Her talk underscored how difficult it is to design assessments that are both secure and candidate-friendly.  Crucially, her presentation also highlighted the amount of work that will need to go into developing assessment methods as cheating technologies continue to evolve. 

Emily Hart then took to the stage to share stories from VICTVS’s work delivering exams in challenging environments around the world.  Her talk shone a light on the dedication, logistics, and creativity required to make exams happen safely – even in extreme conditions. 

Emily’s talk highlighted what’s at stake in exam delivery, especially in remote or high-risk regions.  For many candidates, missing an exam isn’t an option –  for exam delivery team’s, this can mean linking a test centre’s power to a hospital during a natural disaster, or navigating political unrest to deliver life-changing opportunities.  These real examples from Emily highlighted the team’s commitment, and it was inspiring to hear her reflect on delivering exams under such tough conditions. 

To learn more about our work and how we deliver assessments on a global scale, click here.

Rethinking Reasonable Adjustments 

Later in the afternoon, Adrian Richardson from the University of Nottingham led a thought-provoking session on reasonable adjustments.  With increased public attention on this issue – especially following Ofqual’s recent update on adjustments data – Adrian’s talk felt especially timely. 

Adrian drew a clear distinction between equality and equity, reminding us that fairness doesn’t always mean treating everyone the same.  For candidates with disabilities, adjustments are essential to level the playing field – not to give an unfair advantage, but to remove built-in disadvantages. 

But as Adrian acknowledged, the process is not without its challenges.  Recent media coverage has raised questions about the misuse of adjustments.  In March, the Spectator reported that 98% of students who take the in-house ADHD test at Oxford University are diagnosed with ADHD, thereby qualifying for 25% extra time.  This has raised questions about the reliability of such tests, and the role institutional privilege plays in accessing adjustments. 

Adrian’s talk invited the audience to consider both the ethical necessity of adjustments, and the complexities involved in delivering them fairly. 

To build on Adrian’s presentation, we hosted a panel discussion on reasonable adjustments featuring: 

• Matthew Wilson, Global Operations Manager at VICTVS 

• Vanessa Lowther, Exams Operations Manager at CIPS 

• And Adrian Richardson himself 

In response to a Q&A session, the panel explored the real-world challenges of implementing adjustments, including the difficulty of ensuring they’re provided only to those who need them.  Panellists shared personal experiences with neurodiversity, offering insight into why inclusive practices matter and how complex the process can be. 

They highlighted the risks of blanket policies, the importance of verifying needs without undermining trust, and the logistical difficulties of supporting large candidate numbers.  

This was an insightful and honest discussion by professionals dealing with these issues daily.  With growing attention on this area, it’s clear the topic of reasonable adjustments will only become more vital going forward. 

Keynote and Drinks Reception 

For our keynote talk, we were joined by Michael Walford-Williams, a social engineering expert known for his work as a “gentleman bank robber.” 

Having once been responsible for implementing security protocols, Michael now puts them to the test by conducting penetration testing for banks and financial institutions using social engineering techniques.  In his presentation, Michael spoke about how he exploits human vulnerabilities to gain access to confidential areas, accounts, and even money, all with the goal of testing a company’s security.  

In his closing reflection, Michael drew parallels between this world and the future of academic integrity.  As cheating technologies (and detection tools) become increasingly AI-driven, there will be a growing need for proactive testing, similar to the security audits he performs. 

Michael’s talk was equal parts entertaining and fascinating, and bookended the day nicely by referring back to the themes introduced in Niamh’s presentation on emerging threats. 

We wrapped up the day with a terrace BBQ and a special cocktail created by our events team: ‘The Invigilator’.  I won’t give away the secret recipe, but it was dangerously good – and disappeared fast.  The evening was a perfect chance to connect with attendees, put faces to names, and soak up some rare Northern sunshine.

Final Reflections 

It was fantastic to see the first ever VICTVS conference be such a success, packed with ideas, collaboration, and meaningful conversations regarding the present and future challenges to academic integrity.  As well as the fascinating talks led by our experts, it was great to see so many professionals from the sector coming together to share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and collaborate on how we can tackle some of assessment’s most pressing issues.  

Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, or helped make the event happen.  We are already looking forward to next year!