1. General
Your compliance with the Online Home Exam Policy is essential to participate in and complete the online exam. MSERM can thus never be held liable – direct nor indirect – for your inability to comply with the Online Home Exam Policy (irrespective of whether this non-compliance is non-intentional or due to your negligence or willful misconduct).
You must accept this Online Home Exam Policy by accepting each article individually via opt-in and this is upon receipt of the invitation letter whereby you will need to confirm its content in order to get access to your installation data. Without your acceptance, you will not be able to receive the installation data and commence with the required installation of the examination software.
2. Privacy
The processing of your personal data by MSERM within the context of the online exam shall take place in accordance with the provisions of MSERM’s privacy declaration. This privacy declaration includes information about the personal data collected by MSERM, as well as the manner in which MSERM uses and processes this personal data. The privacy declaration can be consulted on the MSERM website and must be read together with the cookie policy.
Furthermore, given the online format of the exam, MSERM appeals on a third party software provider which is specialized in remote examination extension software (AI technology) for online examinations. This implies that said third party software provider shall process your personal data as a processor on behalf of MSERM. In this respect, MSERM – as controller – undertakes to conclude a data processing agreement with the third party software provider, which will contain the necessary guarantees in respect of the confidentiality and privacy of your personal data.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that MSERM shall process my personal data in accordance with the MSERM privacy declaration (as published on the MSERM-CONGRESS website)
3. Preparation for the online exam
MSERM will send you timely an invitation letter to initiate the preparation required to participate in the online exam, including instructions to get access to your installation data.
Furthermore, said invitation letter shall also make reference to the specific installation instructions from the third party software provider.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that it is my sole responsibility to read both the preparation information as well as the installation instructions carefully and thus be fully prepared before the installation of the examination software
4. Installation of the examination software
Once you have confirmed the content and receipt of the invitation letter as well as have accepted the Online Home Exam Policy, you will get access to your installation data. You will be asked to enter your last name and your personal booking code.
Please note that you have to complete the installation of the examination software before the deadline expressly stated in the invitation letter or you will not be able to participate in and complete the online exam, without any right of compensation from both MSERM and the online exam software provider.
It is your sole responsibility to have read and comply fully with the following essential installation instructions (non-exhaustive list):
– To install the examination software, you should accept the software as a safe programme;
– Your computer needs to be updated to one of the following operating systems: Windows 10 11 (64-bit) / Mac 10.14 or later ;
– Your computer has a functioning camera (external cameras are not allowed );
– You have full user rights to install the examination software on your computer (when using a work computer, check with your IT department);
– Your computer has a stable internet connection;
– Any VPN connections should be switched off before the installation of the examination software;
– Close all other programs potentially running on your computer.
In the event you experience problems with the installation of the examination software, which cannot be addressed by the specific installation instructions from the third party software provider, you should always contact the third party software provider via their support helpdesk and submit a ticket. If you have sent one ticket there is no need to send another one. Any request for support not submitted via the proper communication channel of the third party software provider shall be considered nonexistent and shall thus not be resolved.
As MSERM cannot provide you with support in this matter, you may not contact MSERM. Any request related herewith shall be considered by MSERM as nonexistent.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that:
– It is my sole responsibility to fully comply with the installation instructions; and
– ESHRE can never be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from my inability to (i) fully comply with the installation & preparation instructions and/or (ii) complete the installation of the examination software before the installation deadline (irrespective whether this non-compliance is non-intentional or due to your negligence or wilful misconduct).
5. Preparation of the exam room
On the day of the online exam, your desk should be empty, except for:
– Your computer (any additional screens to the computer are not allowed and should thus be removed);
– Your mobile phone (which can only be used in accordance with art. 3.9);
– A clear bottle of water.
Use proper lighting as it is important for our human observers (invigilators) and the examination software (AI technology) to have a clear image of your face in order to execute the enhanced security (in accordance with art. 3.7). Your room should be equipped with proper power outlets. Hence, MSERM nor the online exam software provider can be held liable for your inability to participate in or complete the online exam due to a lack of (electric) power.
There is no need to empty the whole room, however no pictures of people’s faces should be on the wall behind you as they could be perceived as other persons in the room by the examination software.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that I have to prepare my room in accordance with the abovementioned instructions as it concerns prerequisites for a fair examination for all.
6. Attending the online exam
You have to be present in the virtual exam room at the timing specified in the confirmation email. Attending the online exam shall no longer be possible if you are not present in the virtual room before the set deadline, irrespective of the reason (e.g. lost track of time, the examination software was not timely and/or properly installed (cf. art. 3.4), etc.).
You may leave the virtual room at any time. However, if you leave , you are unable to re-enter the virtual room until the end time for that part of the online exam. It is thus advised to use the facilities before the start of the online exam.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that being present on time in the virtual room is essential to participate in the exam and that I will thus not be entitled to any refund or other compensation from MSERM in the event I am not present on time in the virtual room.
7. Enhanced security during the online exam
Due to the online format of the exam on-site invigilation is no longer possible. However, since the security of the exam is of utmost importance for MSERM to maintain the high standards of the MSERM certifications, additional security measures were taken by MSERM.
During the online exam you will remotely be monitored by human observers (invigilators) through your computer. In addition, sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology – as installed via the examination software – will be used to assist the invigilators to detect any suspicious patterns. The AI technology will monitor your interaction with the exam software, patterns, and also make periodic recordings. These recordings will be analysed to detect and identify that it is you, that only you are sitting by the computer, and for other patterns.
Therefore, it is thus essential that:
– No other people are in the room once you attend the virtual room;
– No pictures of people’s faces should be visible on the wall behind you as they could be perceived as other persons in the room by the examination software;
– You do not have access to any additional computer equipment during the online exam, other than the computer to participate in the online exam.
Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden during the online exam to:
– Access the internet, any technology devices, any information sources (such as but not limited to books, journals, notes, research) or any other methods that improve your results beyond your own un-assisted knowledge.
– Take any pictures of the questions (including screenshots).
– Use any camera or video recording equipment;
– Communicate with any other person, except when you are contacted by the support team of the third party software provider (cf. art. 3.9). Your mobile phone can thus only be used for that specific reason.
Finally, the data will be stored and analysed after the online exam (cf. art. 3.8).
Any breach of the above security rules is considered grounds for disqualification and can be qualified as fraud. In the event you breach one or more of these security rules, the exam board reserves the right:
I.- To notify the regulatory body and/or national society of the country/countries you are working in and/or your employer(s);
II.- To prevent you for participating in exams at a future timepoint;
III.- To disqualify your participation in the online exam and/or consider your exam results as inadmissible;
IV.- To revoke the awarded certification following your participation in the online exam if the breach/fraudulent actions are only detected after the certification has been granted.
Instances of fraud will result in exclusion from MSERM, whereby this decision shall be published on the MSERM-CONGRESS website.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that compliance with the security rules is a prerequisite to be able to participate in and complete the online exam. Any form of non-compliance/fraud can lead to disqualification and/or the inadmissibility of my exam results and – where appropriate – to the withdrawal of my certification (if already granted by MSERM), without any right of compensation from MSERM.
8. Data monitoring, recording and processing
As part of the enhanced security, all data will be sampled and stored, before and during the online exam. This data includes all of your interactions with software (mouse, keyboard, data traffic etc) and periodic images taken by the camera on your computer.
This data will be processed by algorithms including AI to detect patterns. These data models will detect patterns in your exam response, body language, facial features as well as presence of any unauthorized persons (not you). You will also be monitored by one or more invigilators. This data gathering is intrusive but serves the purpose of creating a safe environment for participating in the online exam.
Furthermore, all such data will also be recorded and the recorded data will be merged with other data sources to analyse your exam performance and detect any suspicious patterns. This analysis will be performed during the online exam, and more extensively after the online exam.
Your exam data and periodic images during the online exam will be kept for a maximum of two (2) years for reason of proof.
I acknowledge that such data monitoring, recording and processing by MSERM is essential to safeguard the high standards of the MSERM certification and detect any non-compliance with this Online Exam Home Policy or fraud in general. MSERM shall be entitled to undertake such processing activities based on the contractual basis between myself and MSERM regarding the online exam.
9. Support during the online exam
In case you (i) have installed the examination software on time and in accordance with the installation instructions, (ii) have performed all the required preparation and (iii) are in the virtual room on time (cf. art. 3.4 – 3.6) but still encounter issues to enter the virtual room or during the online exam (such as problems with the exam software, compatibility, connectivity or similar), you must contact the helpdesk of the third party software provider by submitting a ticket. Any request for support not submitted via the proper communication channel of the third party software provider shall be considered nonexistent and shall thus not be resolved.
As MSERM cannot provide you with support in this matter, you may not contact MSERM. Any request related herewith shall be considered by MSERM as nonexistent.
To solve the ticket, it might occur that someone of the (technical) support team of the third party software will call you on your mobile phone. The use of your mobile phone during the online exam will be monitored in order to verify whether you use your mobile phone for this purpose only. If you happen to make a phone call during your online exam, which cannot be redirected to a question for (technical) support, the provisions of art. 3.7 regarding fraud are applicable.
However, in case of non-compliance with paragraph 1, point (i), (ii) and/or (iii), you will not be able to participate in and/or complete the online exam. MSERM can never be held liable for any direct or indirect damage (including the impossibility to participate in and/or complete the online exam) resulting from said non-compliance, irrespective whether this non-compliance is non-intentional or due to your negligence or wilful misconduct.
I acknowledge and agree explicitly that any non-compliance with the installation and preparation instructions and/or not being on time in the virtual room (cf. art. 3.4-3.6) shall imply that I will not be able to participate in and/or complete the online exam. In this respect I will not be entitled to any refund from MSERM nor can MSERM be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from said non-compliance, irrespective whether this non-compliance is non-intentional or due to your negligence or wilful misconduct.
I explicitly acknowledge having read the Online Home Exam Policy and accepting the Online Exam Home Policy in its entirety.
