As its first session exam period of the year comes to a close, Charles Sturt provided insight into its academic safeguards after new research claims one third of surveyed university students believe they know someone who cheated during 2020.
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The research, commissioned by Studiosity, was based on data from more than 1,000 Australian university students and revealed one in three of those surveyed think they both know someone who had cheated and that it was easier to do last year.
In terms of the main reason why, 69 per cent said cheating seemed easier to get away with due to exams being online while another 19 per cent cited a drop in confidence due to studying alone, both by-products of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Academic integrity is at the heart of our education and we take all possible steps in terms of protections and governance to safeguard the integrity of our qualifications.
- Charles Sturt Acting Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Janelle Wheat
In a positive response when those surveyed were asked if they'd be more likely to cheat knowing someone else had, 82 per cent said they wouldn't.
The majority of Charles Sturt's exams in this year's first session, due to end on Friday, have been held online with some conducted face-to-face too as the university continues to navigate the post-pandemic landscape.
At its height the coronavirus pandemic also forced all of Charles Sturt's learning online, the environment Studiosity's study suggested was the most conducive to students cheating, or at least feeling as though they could get away with it.
However Charles Sturt's safeguards are, were and have long-been stringent, Acting Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Janelle Wheat explained, with no stone being left unturned.
"Academic integrity is at the heart of our education and we take all possible steps in terms of protections and governance to safeguard the integrity of our qualifications," Ms Wheat, who is responsible for the operation of the university's faculties, said.
The university's Division of Information Technology also works closely with faculties and the entire sector to identify and block pathways for contract-cheating - when third parties are engaged to complete assessments.
"No assessment items are fool proof when it comes to cheating but academic staff design assessment tasks to minimise the likelihood of academic misconduct. Additionally, all text-based assessments are checked for originality using Turnitin," Ms Wheat explained.
At Charles Sturt University all students must complete academic integrity training modules which include specific material covering contract-cheating.
"Students who do not complete these modules are unable to view their grades."
The study also revealed 16 per cent of students surveyed would actually feel sorry for those who cheated and another 21 per cent said it would make them think harder about their own work, with 29 per cent also worrying about accidentally cheating.
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