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Established in 1998 and with roots dating back to 1875, Saxion University of Applied Sciences (known in their local tongue as a Hogescholen) are no strangers to technology.

[one-half-first] Like many Higher Education institutions across Europe, Saxion value the use of technology in education and have been advocates of on-screen testing for some time, because the advanced analysis functions allow exam technicians to make sure that the exams being delivered are the most fair and accurate way of assessing those students.

In 2012, after reviewing several systems as part of a rigorous tender process, Saxion made the decision to move away from their former assessment software and to start using Surpass, migrating their existing content to ensure there was no interruption in the transition period.
[/one-half-first] [one-half] BTL is proud to have worked together with Saxion University in the Netherlands since 2012. During 2015 they delivered over 40,000 tests with Surpass, and they expect to deliver more than this in 2016. [/one-half] [clearfix]

The Surpass Platform now delivers over 45,000 tests a year across 12 schools on the Saxion University Campus, and next year this is expected to rise to 60,000. The University also have plans to use Surpass to deliver more formative tests as a means to help students and lecturers determine the best course of further study throughout each term.


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“We use Surpass to guarantee quality…producing the right tests and the right test matrix…” – Leen Van Kaam (Saxion)

“The migration to Surpass was a big effort, but everyone sees what we can do now with Surpass, that we couldn’t with the application before. The relationship with BTL is very nice. You can say what you want… and within the year you get what you want in the application.” – Alwin Wullink (Saxion)

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In the case study, Leen Van Kaam and Alwin Wullink talk about their journey with Surpass and the benefits it brings by allowing test authors and exam technicians to work in a collaborative environment. This is something that is of particular interest in the Netherlands, as recently subject specialists from different institutions are working together to develop a better testing process for niche subject areas.


The two also talk about how in the years since that initial migration, BTL and Saxion have worked together to ensure that Surpass continues to meet both their needs, and expectations of what a cutting edge assessment tool should be. In Leen’s words ‘I experience co-operation with BTL as a partnership, not a client / vendor relation’.


And what of the future? Saxion will increase the number of on-screen tests conducted each year, taking advantage of Surpass to optimise the use of resources across the University’s many computer rooms, and increase the number of formative tests delivered to assist teachers and students with the data that Surpass allows them to obtain.

To see other case studies from BTL and our partners, please visit the http://www.btl.com/case-studies or you can use the form on our contact page if you have specific questions about how we might work together.