Why Read These White Papers?

UNIwise’s series of white papers by Oliver Kjøller and Rasmus Blok offers a comprehensive exploration of academic misconduct, with a particular focus on plagiarism across Scandinavia and the UK.

Their first white paper reveals that, despite the AI revolution, plagiarism remains the leading form of cheating, with a dramatic surge in cases during COVID-19-up to a 132.5% increase. Notably, the rise of AI has not diminished students’ reliance on traditional forms of plagiarism.

The second white paper delves into students’ understanding of plagiarism, uncovering that more than 37% of students could not identify a clear case of plagiarism, and nearly half struggled to recognize unacceptable paraphrasing, highlighting persistent ‘grey zones’ in academic conduct.

The third white paper investigates why students plagiarize, categorizing offenders as either “reactive”-driven by poor time management or stress or “proactive,” seeking efficiency gains, based on a meta-analysis of 37 research papers. Understanding these motivations is essential for educators and institutions striving to uphold academic integrity in the digital era.

Finally, the fourth white paper examines the methods students use to plagiarise, from direct copying and paraphrasing to translingual plagiarism, while also analyzing detection techniques and sanction practices across institutions.

Individually and reads together, these studies provide valuable insights for educators, administrators, and anyone interested in maintaining and promoting academic standards in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.