The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has acknowledged the possibility of cheating during an online exam administered in 2025 for its System for Open and Distance Education (SUAyED), a program that allows students to pursue university degrees remotely rather than attending in-person classes.
According to a report published by La Jornada, university officials confirmed that irregularities may have affected the exam, which serves as an admissions requirement for prospective SUAyED students. The acknowledgment comes amid growing scrutiny of remote testing methods, which have become more common across Mexican universities since the pandemic but have also raised persistent concerns about how to verify test-takers’ identities and prevent unauthorized assistance.
UNAM, one of Latin America’s largest and most prestigious public universities, has not yet detailed what specific measures it will take to address the situation or whether affected students will be required to retake the exam. The case adds to an ongoing debate in Mexican higher education about the reliability of online evaluation systems and the safeguards needed to ensure fairness for all applicants.
For the full report and additional details on the university’s response, readers can consult the original article on La Jornada’s website.
Image: mando2003us, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).