At VICTVS, we have four core values which underpin all the work we do and the way we operate: Honesty, Integrity, Professionalism and Courage.  These values are integral to the company, and we make sure all new team members understand and uphold them from the very start. 

Each quarter, we will explore a different VICTVS value, examining what it means in everyday life and the important role it plays in the business.  In this blog post, we will be looking at courage. 

What is Courage? 

We often mentally associate courage with big, scary accomplishments – like doing a dangerous hike or jumping out of a plane.  But courage is also needed when making difficult decisions every day, like speaking up when it might feel uncomfortable doing so, and staying true to our beliefs even when under pressure.  

We spoke about integrity in a previous blog post, a core value which is defined by someone’s ability to live by their values and embody them in everything they do.  It often takes courage to act with integrity, as it can take a lot of strength to make difficult decisions, speak up when it matters, and stay true to your principles in the face of pressure or uncertainty.  

Courage is what is needed to turn beliefs into actions.  While it can be about grand gestures and impressive physical feats, it’s more often found in the steady commitment to do what’s right – even when the outcome is uncertain, or the path is uncomfortable. 

The Importance of Courage at VICTVS 

At VICTVS, courage takes many forms.  It can mean calling out a candidate for suspected misconduct, even when it feels uncomfortable to do so.  It can mean taking initiative in high-pressure situations, whether that’s responding calmly to a technical issue mid-exam, or managing an unexpected emergency in an exam centre.  For our operations team, courage can look like adapting to challenges such as extreme weather, natural disasters, or political upheaval to ensure exams are delivered safely and securely around the world. 

One example of this was in Malawi, where a cyclone struck the day before one of our exams was due to take place.  In a region already difficult to operate in due to energy poverty, the heavy rain, widespread power outages, and unsafe roads meant we had to think on our feat and carry out a last minute change of plans.  Our operations team immediately reached out to one of our local invigilators to understand the extent of the damage and ensure everyone’s safety.  At the same time, we kept the client informed so candidates could be updated in real time.  Behind the scenes, the team worked quickly to create a backup plan, ultimately linking the exam centre to a hospital’s power supply so that candidates could sit their exam as scheduled. 

Our invigilators and operations staff understood what was at stake — if the exams couldn’t go ahead, candidates would have faced a delay of three months, potentially affecting their career progression.  Moments like this demand not only professionalism and integrity, but also the bravery to make quick decisions, think creatively, and stay composed under pressure. 

Courage at VICTVS isn’t just about reacting in difficult moments; it’s also about contributing opinions, questioning processes when something doesn’t feel right, and sharing new ideas for how we can improve.  Whether it’s an invigilator raising a concern, or a member of our head office team offering a different perspective in a discussion, courage is what allows us to keep growing, learning, and delivering the best possible service for our clients and candidates. 

On the flipside, a lack of courage in assessments can have serious consequences.  When someone hesitates to speak up or act, it can allow instances of misconduct to go unchecked — undermining the integrity of not just a single exam, but the credibility of the entire qualification.  Every time an invigilator or other member of exam staff chooses not to address an issue, the fairness of the assessment is compromised, and trust in the process is weakened.  

Similarly, not having the courage to act during times of high stress, or speak out when you feel it’s necessary, can prevent exams from running smoothly, and from procedures to develop and progress into something better. 

Final Thoughts  

Courage is a core value at VICTVS — it empowers us to act with integrity in challenging moments, safeguarding academic standards and driving the growth of the business.  It motivates us to speak up, make the right decisions, and take action when it matters most.  

Whether in an exam hall, navigating a crisis, or contributing in a team discussion, courage enables us to uphold our standards, support one another, and ensure the delivery of secure, fair assessments worldwide.