October 17, 2018

New Office of Academic Integrity to build on UOW’s work in preventing cheating

Centralised support to ensure honest and fairness at the heart of student experience

At the official launch of the Office of Academic Integrity today (Wednesday 17 October), the University of Wollongong (UOW) signalled its dedication to enforcing the highest of academic standards across all research, teaching, and learning activities.

In an event held at the McKinnon Building, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joe Chicharo said the establishment of the centralised office will provide support to academic staff to help them deal with potential issues and ensure prospective and current students know what is required when it comes to studying at the University.

The office will build upon UOW’s strength in the area of academic integrity while recognising the tough technological environment in which universities operate.

The aim is to completely stamp out the practice of students presenting online information as their own work or turning to websites that facilitate the creation of customised assignments.

The launch of UOW’s Office of Academic Integrity coincided with International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating.

Professor Cath Ellis, Professor Joe Chicharo, and Dr Ann Rogerson.

Professor Chicharo said academic integrity is fundamental to the University and the new, dedicated office will continue to bolster UOW’s work in preventing students presenting online information as their own work, sharing their assignments online, or using websites to create customised assignments.

“Academic integrity demands honesty, fairness, trust and responsibility at all times, from all students and staff. It is about maintaining the highest possible academic standards but also about shaping a student cohort who value these principles and integrate them into their daily lives,” Professor Chicharo said.

“The current technological environment has given rise to new and innovative ways of cheating, but we are determined to stay ahead of the curve and educate students about the negative, far-reaching impacts that contract cheating and academic misconduct will have on their careers.”

“We are educating the next generation of leaders, who will go out into the world, into every field imaginable, and make a difference. We want to ensure that these principles – of honesty, fairness and integrity - stay with them throughout their time at UOW and beyond.”

During the launch, Professor Cath Ellis, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, provided an insight into her research into academic integrity and contract cheating.

Professor Chicharo also announced the launch of the new Academic Integrity Advisory Group, which will provide strategic direction to the Office of Academic Integrity.

The group will be chaired by Dr Ann Rogerson, from the Faculty of Business, who is an expert in academic integrity and the detection of contract cheating.