Saxion sets up amnesty scheme for exam fraud cases

21 March 2022 Reading time Minutes

On 15 February, Saxion revealed that it had reported a possible exam theft to the police involving the sale of exams to students. The Saxion Executive Board has set up an amnesty scheme in collaboration with the examination boards.

The amnesty scheme is intended for students who have illegitimately made use of stolen examinations to gain prior access to exam questions. These students will be given the chance to retake the exams in a legitimate way.

The reliability of exams is paramount and there should be no doubt that the value of a Saxion degree is beyond reproach. The possible exam theft and selling to students can undermine this value and is a very serious matter. It is important to get insight into who took their exams in an honest way and who cheated.

Anka Mulder, Chairperson of the Executive Board: “Students must obtain their degrees in an honest way, so that the value of the degree is beyond reproach. This is of great importance with a view to their future careers. We have set up an amnesty scheme to offer students who had prior access to the exam questions the chance to pass these exams legitimately. If a student does not make use of the amnesty scheme and it later transpires that this student. has made use of previously obtained exam questions, we will then impose sanctions which may have severe consequences for this student.

Investigation

The police and Public Prosecution Service are currently conducting their own investigation into the matter. This includes piecing together and analysing (digital) evidence. Saxion is also conducting an additional internal investigation into information which has come in through the reporting centre (meldpunt@saxion.nl). The amnesty scheme aims to speed up Saxion’s internal investigation get to the bottom of this matter. These investigations will help identify which exam questions were likely to have been sold to students and the group of students which would most likely benefit from them. It is very important that students who took their exams conscientiously are not adversely affected. It will take quite some time to conduct a careful and thorough investigation. Saxion is aware that this situation can cause a feeling of uncertainty among students and staff members. We regret this and we are doing all we can to provide clarity as soon as possible.

How do I make use of the amnesty scheme?

You can make use of the amnesty scheme until 15 April by filling in this form. For questions, contact the reporting centre meldpunt@saxion.nl. The internal investigation board will personally invite the students concerned to attend an individual hearing so that the student can explain their situation. Students who apply for the amnesty scheme will not be penalised and they will have to retake the exam. Former students may also make use of this scheme.

If you do not make use of the scheme, or only partial use of it, and it turns out that your exam results were obtained in an unlawful way, then the Examination Board will impose a sanction appropriate to the seriousness of the fraud. This could be a temporary suspension resulting in study delay or even dismissal from your degree programme.