Why Read This White Paper?

In this second white paper by UNIwise Oliver Kjoller and Rasmus Blok shed light on the growing issue of academic misconduct in higher education, particularly focusing on a concerning trend in students’ understanding of academic integrity.

Key findings from the study include:

• Over 37% of students failed to identify a clear case of plagiarism as unacceptable
• Nearly 49% of students couldn’t recognize unacceptable paraphrasing
• Even with proper citation, 10% of students incorrectly labeled acceptable academic practice as unacceptable

Research surveying 1,639 students across various European countries, highlights the existence of significant “grey zones” in students’ comprehension of plagiarism and proper citation practices.

This aligns with other findings from Swedish and Danish reports, suggesting that a large portion of academic misconduct may be unintentional. The confusion is particularly prevalent among students in their early academic years.

It is suggested that educational institutions should consider reinforcing their approach to teaching academic conduct, especially for new students. By increasing awareness and providing clearer instructions, universities may be able to reduce unintentional plagiarism and create a more transparent academic environment.

As academic misconduct continues to rise, even disregarding the spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides valuable insights into potential root causes. It emphasises the need for a two-pronged approach: addressing unintentional misconduct through education and focusing on intentional misconduct separately.