Why Read This White Paper?

In this white paper by UNIwise Oliver Kjoller and Rasmus Blok reveals alarming trends in academic misconduct across Scandinavian countries and the UK. The study, analyzing data from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, exposes a startling surge in plagiarism cases, with increases of up to 132.5% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the rise of AI technologies, plagiarism remains the primary form of academic dishonesty, accounting for approximately 60% of all cases. Surprisingly, the availability of generative AI has not deterred students from resorting to traditional plagiarism tactics, contradicting expectations that AI would lead to a decrease in such cases.

The research highlights a long-term upward trend in academic misconduct, even predating the pandemic. While post-COVID levels have slightly declined, they remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic figures, indicating a lasting impact on academic integrity.

The study also points out a concerning lack of transparency among educational institutions regarding misconduct data. This secrecy may be hindering efforts to combat the growing problem effectively.

As universities grapple with this escalating crisis, the persistence of old-school plagiarism in an era of advanced technology raises critical questions about the future of academic integrity and the effectiveness of current preventive measures.