Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has reported a decline in academic integrity violations from 334 cases in 2009-10 to just 29 cases in the 2014-15 academic year.
The university, which is ranked among the 50 best universities in the Arab world by QS, a professional organisation that rates universities, formed the Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) in 2009 to ensure that academic standards are upheld and that there are no violations by students or faculty members.
Commenting on the results, Chancellor Dr Nabeel Ebrahim said: “It is a well-known fact that higher education results are insignificant if they’re gained through dishonest means. Consequently, we continuously encourage students, faculty and staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and transparency, on both academic and personal levels.
“Since the inception of the OAI, the university has implemented clear and strict policies and regulations that combat, regulate and respond to academic violations,” he added.
In some cases, students were expelled, with each violation examined on a case-by-case basis depending on its severity, Dr Ebrahim said.
As part of the OAI’s efforts, educational workshops and awareness campaigns are also held for students and faculty.
“Faculty and staff are also educated and trained on how to uncover cases of plagiarism, cheating, collusion, free riding, presenting false credentials, fabrication of data and other academic violations,” Dr Ebrahim said.
Dr Ali Azad, director of ADU’s Al Ain campus and head of OAI, pointed out that cases of cheating decreased from 76 in 2009-10 when 4,237 students were enrolled at ADU to just 15 cases in 2014-15 when 6,561 students were enrolled at ADU. Cases of plagiarism, by far the most common violation of academic integrity, declined from 196 in 2009-10 to just 11 in 2014-15.
Dr Azad attributed the improvement in academic integrity to ADU’s sensitivity towards ethical conduct by its students.
In numbers
334
cases of academic violations in 2009-10
29
cases of academic violations in 2014-15
76
Cheating cases in 2009-10
15
Cheating cases in 2014-15
106
Plagiarism cases in 2009-10
11
Plagiarism cases in 2014-15
