Academic integrity | This guidance uses the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) definition - ‘a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals to action.’ |
Contract cheating | A form of cheating where a student outsources their learning by submitting work to a higher education provider for assessment, where they have used one or more of a range of services provided by a third party to produce that work, and such input is not permitted. The contract with the student can include payment or other favours. It also may be referred to as ’commissioning’. ‘Services’ may include essays or other types of assignments, conducting research, impersonation in exams and other forms of unfair assistance for completing assessed work. ‘Third parties’ include people working for web-based companies and/or advertising their services via social media, freelance sites, auction sites and/or note sharing websites (essay mills, people working for coaching and tutoring companies), or an individual such as a lecturer, colleague, fellow students, former student, friend or relative. ‘Input’ means that the third party makes a contribution to the work of the student, such that there is reasonable doubt as to whose authorship/work/learning the submission represents. In a strict legal definition, a contract must have some form of consideration - something of value (goods or services) must be exchanged. However, this guidance is relevant to all situations where the work has not been carried out by the person submitting, even if there is no consideration. |
Essay mill | An organisation or individual, usually with an online presence, that contracts with students to complete an assignment or assignments for a fee. |
Closed book exam | An exam in which the participants have a set period of time to answer the questions based on their knowledge and understanding, the resources provided during the exam period and nothing else. |
Open book exam | An exam in which the participants have a set period of time to answer the questions and are permitted to use any available resources to help them during it. |
iRAT | Individual Readiness Assessment Test |
tRAT | Team Readiness Assessment Test |
tAPP | Team Application |
TBL | Team Based Learning |
RAT | Readiness Assessment Test |
Pilot | A time limited review to see if a solution meets requirments. See Pilot Policy |
Resourcing | Resourcing refers to cost (monetary or time) this can apply to technical solutions, licences, staff and students. |