Why Read This White Paper?

In this fourth white paper by UNIwise Oliver Kjøller and Rasmus Blok sheds light on plagiarism patterns in Danish higher education institutions, based on a series of qualitative interviews with stakeholders. The study, conducted in the fall of 2024, offers valuable insights into the specifics of how and from where students plagiarise, when the engage in academic misconduct.

Key findings include:

• Direct plagiarism is the most common form, involving copying and pasting without citation.
• Previous assignments are the primary source of plagiarised content, followed by self-plagiarism and collusion.
• Paraphrasing presents a significant challenge for institutions, often falling into a grey area.

The white paper also reveals that most plagiarism occurs within the same institution, with students primarily copying from other students, and that most institutions issue warnings and nullify exam submissions for first-time offenses as their main sanctions. Harsher penalties are reserved for extreme cases or repeat offenders.

The research highlights the importance of plagiarism detection software and varying institutional approaches to reviewing plagiarism reports. While some institutions use percentage thresholds, others mandate a review of all reports.

This comprehensive study provides valuable information for educational institutions to better understand and address plagiarism issues in academia.