Higher education or education for hire? Issues of concern relating to academic integrity

Speakers:
Dr Wendy Sutherland-Smith
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Monash University
Barbara Piesse
Lecturer, School of Law, Deakin University
Christopher Kelly
Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Deakin University

Abstract:
Within the higher education sector, issues of academic integrity are linked to quality assurance processes, including risk management. Some media reports suggest universities are unable to maintain quality in educational programs because of technologies, such as the internet, providing greater opportunities for students to engage in unethical practices, such as plagiarism and cheating. Institutions are aware of the risk to reputation and revenue of academic integrity scandals, particularly where formal corruption processes are involved (ICAC, 2005). However, balancing the need to respond swiftly to new quality assurance risks with reasoned and sustainable processes remains a challenge for universities worldwide.

This paper examines the high risks areas of plagiarism and contract cheating in tertiary quality assurance processes. A number of issues underlying unethical academic practices are discussed, using vignettes drawn from real cases in which two of the authors are involved. The focus of the paper is on issues of quality assurance and risk management for the institution, its personnel and its processes. In proposing some strategies, we argue that responsible dialogue between stakeholders in academic integrity issues: academics, policy-makers, student advisers and those involved in disciplinary procedures are essential to ensure quality is embedded in responses. Procedures must continually respond to the morphing risks and threats to academic integrity in the higher education sector.