MUCM runs nation’s first fully paperless digital examination
LUMPUR: Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone as the first institution in Malaysia to implement fully paperless digital examinations.
As part of its ongoing digital transformation efforts, MUCM conducted the digital examinations for 130 Dentistry students on February 26, 2024, utilizing MUCM-issued e-pads for answer submissions.
Another group of 262 students in the Faculty of Medicine is scheduled to sit for their digital examinations this month.
MUCM plans to extend the paperless digital examination format to all batches of students across the Medicine, Dentistry, Allied Health & Psychology, and Centre for Foundation & General Studies faculties by early 2026.
MUCM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Patrick Kee Peng Kong expressed his pride in the institution’s forefront position in implementing next-generation technologies for increased efficiency and accuracy.
The new era ushered in by the paperless digital examination, he emphasised, has provided the students with a seamless transition from daily teachinglearning to the digital healthcare system.
The vice-chancellor highlighted the advantages of technology in ensuring quick and accurate assessments, timely insights into academic performance and eliminating the anxious wait for results.
In stating MUCM’s commitment towards the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in the future, he said the university also aims to incorporate digitalisation in its future management system, including the issuing of hall tickets, statements of grades, transcripts and other exam-related documents.
Prof Dr Patrick Kee expressed confidence that these efforts would further solidify MUCM’s reputation as a leading centre of educational excellence.
According to the univeristy, MUCM invested over RM500k in the digital examination system and related training to provide students and lecturers with a robust headstart in digital education.
Prior to the implementation of the digital examinations, MUCM encouraged digital learning through students’ tablets and the submission of assignments via the digital platform.
The digital examination system eliminated the need for printing question papers and answer booklets, contributing to environmental sustainability.
To prevent identity fraud, each student underwent an iris scan on the e-pad before the examination, of which the epads were equipped with inbuilt features such as calculator, graph sheets, highlighters, as well as drawing, colouring and editing tools for enhanced ease and comfort during examinations.
The adoption of the digital examination system significantly reduced the need for invigilators, involving only one to two persons per examination. Lecturers could securely undertake the marking and evaluation process from any location within the specified period.
The digital examination system was provided by Singapore-based education technology provider, LittleMORE Innovation Labs Pte Ltd.
Its founder and chief exeutive officer, Srikanth Ganesan, lauded MUCM for its pioneering move towards a fully digital and paperless examination system, which has earned the institution as the forefront of educational innovation and environmental sustainability.