Over half of all invigilated exams at Södertörn University take place outside standard study hours. That is shown by the statistics compiled by the student safety representatives.
The higher education institution's own regulations state that daytime courses must be held on weekdays between 08.00 and 18.00, which applies to both teaching and examinations. Exceptions to this time specification may be made for study visits, work-integrated learning (WIL) and examinations, amongst other things.
Of the 1,562 exam sessions held in 2024, 54 % sessions were scheduled after 6.00 pm, some as late as 10.00 pm. The statistics clearly show that the exception for scheduling invigilated examinations has become the rule.
I SöderS working environment survey From 2023, 75 % of students state that, from a health perspective, it is important or very important for classroom examinations to be held during regular teaching hours. SöderS also believes that certain groups of students may be further disadvantaged by the late scheduling, including students with childcare responsibilities and students entitled to extended examination time as compensatory support.
Recommendations
The student health and safety representatives recommend Södertörn University to:
review scheduling and room booking procedures in order to increase the utilisation rate of examination halls during daytime and map the need for more examination halls
recognise the scheduling of hall exams as an urgent working environment issue for the whole higher education institution
include scheduling of invigilated exams as an area in the proactive anti-discrimination work
The exception proves the rule
Times for invigilated examinations at Södertörn University in 2024 from a study and work environment perspective.