Faculty members' Perceptions of Remote Electronic Examinations in Distance Academic Education

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted higher education institutions to develop new strategies for conducting examinations alongside other learning activities. The Hellenic Open University (HOU) adopted Remote Electronic Examinations (REE) as a one-way solution due to physical presence restrictions. This study presents the perceptions of HOU faculty members on the REE process that was implemented during the three-year period in which the sanitary restrictions lasted in Greece. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected by a short questionnaire. Findings revealed that faculty members' overall satisfaction with REE is increasing year by year. Yet, not all faculty members were satisfied with REE's integrity assurance and not all faculty members are willing to adopt REE in the future. Faculty members acknowledged that REE ensured students' health, reduced students' anxiety by allowing them to be examined in the privacy of their own homes, and saved time and money for everyone involved. Nevertheless, faculty members highlighted several challenges concerning REE's procedures and methods and expressed their concerns on REE's vulnerability to cheating practices. What they mostly request are improvements to the examination procedures and methods, and measures that ensure better REE integrity.