Customer Story: Arden University

Digital Transformation of Assessment with Tomax

Arden University offers flexible, high-quality education to over 27,000 students globally through online and blended learning. With 90+ degree courses and 9 campuses in the UK and Berlin, our rapid growth has made us one of the fastest-growing universities in the UK. This growth and ongoing digital investment continues to propel us, with high student volumes expected for the upcoming years.

Why Digital Transformation?

As Arden University’s course offering and student base expands, ensuring the integrity of assessment is crucial. We sought a platform capable of securing remote, invigilated, and time-controlled exams to meet the standards of various Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs), such as the ACCA. The solution also had to accommodate in-person exams at study centers simultaneously. It was imperative that the platform could meet the needs of different PSRB’s in terms of standards and integrity. The project began with a pilot in January 2024 before scaling fully in April 2024, covering all examined modules. Initially the platform is being used as a standalone solution to align with the implementation of our new student record system. Next steps will include integration with the University’s existing digital infrastructure.

 

How we supported Arden University

Arden University chose Tomax Think Academy’s Vix platform because of its comprehensive and tailored digital assessment capabilities. Key features that influenced our decision include:

Customisable Workflows: The platform allows flexible workflows that can be adapted to fit Arden’s specific needs, ensuring a seamless integration with our existing processes.

Secure Online Browser: A locked-down browser environment provides smart device management and advanced AI-driven monitoring, preventing cheating and maintaining exam integrity, while also meeting accessibility requirements.

Remote Invigilation: The platform offers sophisticated AI-supported proctoring capabilities with flexible privacy settings, ensuring high standards of exam integrity across different Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs).

Candidate Authentication: Automated AI-powered candidate verification reduces the administrative workload while maintaining robust security protocols.

Time-Controlled & Flexible Exams: The scheduling and timing functionalities align perfectly with our academic calendar, accommodating both mid-term and final exams.

Scalability: The platform is built to handle our growing student base, with infrastructure designed to scale as our needs increase.

Integration with Marking System: The automated workflow allows for seamless integration of exam answers with Arden University’s existing marking system, streamlining the grading process.

“The implementation of Tomax Think Academy’s digital assessment platform has transformed our exam processes, ensuring security and accessibility for our students. The support and expertise provided throughout the project have been exceptional.”

Rosella Brennan, Head of Registry Services, Arden University

 

How Arden University Succeeded

The success of Arden University’s digital assessment transition was driven by strong project management, agile implementation, and active stakeholder engagement.

Recognising that stakeholder engagement was crucial, dedicated teams from both Arden and Tomax formed a digital transformation project team. Regular updates and feedback loops ensured alignment with project goals and ensured clear communication and responsibility throughout the process.

An Agile approach allowed for flexibility and quick adjustments based on real-time feedback, keeping the project on track and responsive to evolving needs. Tomax offered bespoke development to align with the University’s unique requirements.

 

Customer Feedback

Tomax Think Academy’s Vix platform stood out for its reliability, flexibility, and robust support services, tailored specifically to our requirements. Their responsiveness and dedication to customer service made the transition smooth and efficient. — Project Team, Arden University.

The Results
The successful implementation of Tomax’s digital assessment platform has enabled students from 32 countries to take their exams, showcasing its global reach. This diverse group includes students from regions such as the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Europe, spanning countries from the United Kingdom to Brazil, and from Germany to South Africa. This highlights the platform’s capability to support a truly global student body.

Maintain Support

Participants have access to a Text Reader which is designed to assist users with visual impairments, reading disabilities, or those who prefer auditory learning. It converts written content into spoken words, enabling users to listen to the text instead of reading it on screen. Operating the tool is straightforward for test takers: they can easily highlight the desired text and simply press play to have the text read aloud through their speakers or headphones.

We are continually evaluating and developing our services, web products, and solutions to improve against accessibility and design standards and best practices.

We are undergoing a WACAG Audit and will publish our accessibility statement once available. We are accessibility accredited by the Ministry of Education for our work in universities in the Middle East.

Participants have access to a Text Reader which is designed to assist users with visual impairments, reading disabilities, or those who prefer auditory learning. It converts written content into spoken words, enabling users to listen to the text instead of reading it on screen. Operating the tool is straightforward for test takers: they can easily highlight the desired text and simply press play to have the text read aloud through their speakers or headphones.

We are continually evaluating and developing our services, web products, and solutions to improve against accessibility and design standards and best practices.

We are undergoing a WACAG Audit and will publish our accessibility statement once available. We are accessibility accredited by the Ministry of Education for our work in universities in the Middle East.

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