Academic Integrity and Importance in Higher Education

This report discusses academic integrity, its importance in higher education, and implications of academic misconduct. It also reflects on the steps taken and difficulties encountered while producing a game and skills learned in BSc Business Management with Foundation course.

BSc (Hons) Business Management with
Foundation
BMP3003
Further Academic Skills
Academic Integrity

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................2
TASK 1.........................................................................................................................................3
Description about academic integrity...................................................................................3
Importance of academic integrity in higher education ........................................................3
Implications of academic misconduct ..................................................................................4
Reflect the steps being taken and difficulties encountered while producing the game......5
Reflect on the skills you have learned this academic year and those emphasised in
producing the game...............................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Academic integrity is defined as the presentation of moral and genuine conduct in an
academic setting. In a university, it is very important because it is entirely related to offering
credit to other individuals while using those ideas. There are six values involved in academic
integrity which are respect, trust, responsibility, courage, fairness and honesty. In terms of
academic misconduct, it refers to an action which assist other people in achieving an unfair
academic advantage (Dinis-Oliveira, 2020). It is mainly engaged with the concept of
plagiarism, agreement and so on. The below report is categorized into two parts which is
section 1 and section 2. In relation with part 1, it involves description of academic integrity,
importance in higher education and implications of academic misconduct. In context with
part 2, it is based on reflection on the basis of associated game.
TASK 1
Description about academic integrity
Academic integrity means avoiding plagiarism and determining the moral behavior in
terms of academic areas. It gives permission and freedom to all the students in order to build
up new ideas and creativity while respecting the work of other people also. In order to
upgrade positive interactions, five elements are applied which is very significant for both
students and their university. In relation with first element which is honesty, it is considered
as the most important because other elements are completely based on honesty only. It
represents the efforts of individual in a fair manner. On the basis of second element which is
trust, it is implemented in a system in which all the people and policies are treated equally.
The third pillar is based on fairness which means that all people should believe that they are
being treated and judged as per the same standards. In accordance with fourth pillar which is
respect, it refers to listening and respecting other people's point of view also (Awosoga and
et.al, 2021)). As per the last element that is responsibility, it means to perform entire work
with effective level of integrity and motivating other people to follow integrity. The main
purpose behind the associated concept is to not only enhance knowledge but also to
maximize the level of accuracy across entire academic community. There are several things
which are required to develop academic skills like strong and active reading practices,
evaluating all sources, keeping up records and so on. There are certain rules necessary for

academic integrity such as not fabricating the data, do not copy, preventing unauthorized
advertisements and many more.
Importance of academic integrity in higher education
As per the concept of academic integrity, it is central to learning and researching at
the university (Booth, Stuhmcke and Wangmann, 2020). It is important for both students as
well as university in terms of their higher education. In context with students, it allows them
to do creative works and at the same point of time, motivating the work of other people also.
Achieving growth and success: - Academic integrity is significant for students in
terms of becoming successful and moving towards the aspect of growth (Zhu, 2020). It helps
them in doing their projects without following any unfair practices and building up the level
of honesty and trust.
Get accurate credits: - It is also important for students to get appropriate credits for
the work which students do and effectively mentioning them in a fair manner (Namatovu and
Gallavan, 2021). With the help of providing credits to all students, the element of honesty and
fairness gets developed. It could efficiently happen with the help of academic integrity only
because it leads to developing knowledge and maintaining accuracy.
Developing creativity: - In order to achieve success in higher education, academic
integrity is important for the students as it helps them in becoming creative and preventing
from any kind of misconduct. In present time period, it is crucial for students to become
creative in their universities so following academic integrity is significant for them.
In context with the importance to universities, academic integrity helps them in
avoiding the level of misconduct. It helps them in assuring effective reputation of the
university and maintaining good standards. On the basis of higher education and importance
to universities, it is defined below: -
Positive learning environment: - In context with significance to universities,
academic integrity builds up the level of trust through which the concept of positivity gets
developed and with the help of this, confidence in education also get enhanced.
Honest and fair practices: - Academic integrity is also important for carrying out fair
practices and with honesty. In order to provide appropriate standards to all the students, it
becomes important for universities to avoid misconduct and follow everything in a fair
manner.

Implications of academic misconduct
Academic misconduct refers to several actions that goes against the expected norms
of institutes and universities. There are various types of misconduct like cheating,
misrepresenting and many more. It is considered as an unhealthy practice that could lead to
de-motivation among entire universities (Crook and Cranston, 2021). It could lead to many
issues for students and there are many implications associated with it. In context with this, it
is being explained below: -
Lead to improper assessments: - Due to academic misconduct, improper assessment
takes place and faculty member won't be able to access proper skills associated with students
and they will be just copying another individual ideas and loss of creativity could take place.
Due to this, the issue gets arise in universities also as taking the credit of others leads to many
consequences.
Impact on students image: - In accordance with this, academic misconduct also leads
to the impact on the image of students. As there are strict rules associated with academic
misconduct, so students who are found doing any cheating or copying the work, they could
get strict punishments which create a negative impact on their image.
Creating dishonesty: - Due to the usage of academic misconduct, disloyalty gets arise
across all the students. If they carry the practice of misconduct, then trust issues takes place
due to which many consequences gets arise within the universities.
Academic misconduct creates an impact on all progression opportunities and create
problems for further employment (Albrecht and Clark, 2021). It becomes difficult for
students to achieve growth and move to next level. Due to academic misconduct, many legal
and social consequences takes place like if students do cheating or plagiarism is find out in
the assignments, then loss of future projects takes place.
TASK 2
Reflect the steps being taken and difficulties encountered while producing the game
In context with reflecting all the steps which were being taken and the issues which
designing the game, the usage of Gibbs reflective model is used (Ali, Sultan and
Aboelmaged, 2021). It refers to investigating thinking which enables to assign the theory and
practices in a models. The reflective cycle is engaged with five stages which are further
defined below: -

Description: - In accordance with the personal planning, I was provided with a task to
design a game that highlights about significance of misconduct and avoiding plagiarism. The
task which I was provided with was easy for me and allowed to select partners among the
team which is of 4-5 people. The entire idea is to design a different and unique game for
offering accurate data and information to all the students with respect to academic
misconduct.
Steps: -
The first step which is included was meeting with all the team members and exploring
ideas and discussion. On the basis of the discussion, decision was made and all instructions
regarding the game was planned.
The second step which was taken by me was to implement. In order to initiate the
implementation, the game was divided in small parts that is indulged with questions,
instructions, accurate information and many more.
The third step which is included is regarding the finalization of task. Besides this, the
discussion about method of communication gets decided. The main issue which took place
was that group members were added by the mentors. It is considered as the main problem
because we already did discussion about the associated game and overall planning so by
adding a new team member, we had to discuss the game again.
Feelings: -
Before the event: -
Before the event was started, I was excited and focused towards designing the game
in relation to academic misconduct. As I was moving forward, I was getting satisfied by
watching how authors are getting engaged while developing the ideas.
During the event: -
When event was going on, there was a little disappointment because new member was
added in the group. There was no cooperation as there was no other option left with us.
Besides this, the entire situation need to explain again to the tutor.
Experience: -
According to me, the situation was both emotional and stressful because I always
wanted that all team members work with full potential. At the same point of time, there is a
fact that the performance of a person is marked independently and completely on the basis of
understanding.
After the event: -

When I look back at the condition, it was predicted by me that a team perform in a
better way than an individual but there were not much opportunities and support to third
members.
Evaluation: -
What went well: -
The most efficient thing which went well was that the idea regarding game was very
different and covered all the aspects. Besides this, the team work was also planned and them
it was being implemented.
What did not work: -
The thing which did not worked in a proper manner was the involvement of new
member and the technical part of game creation.
End of experience: -
All the work was done well and positive outcomes were accomplished.
Analysis: -
As the team member was added in the group, stressful situations were taking place
and there were not much things which could be done to do certain modifications. So, the best
option which was considered was to support new member and complete the assignment. The
game was able to get completed with the help of good communication skills and amazing
network.
Action plan: -
In order to do improvements, several actions were being taken by me like to focus on making
improvements in problem solving skills, appreciating the things if done effectively and to
concentrate on selecting team members.
Reflect on the skills you have learned this academic year and those emphasised in producing
the game
During the designing of game, there were several skills which I developed and it is
defined below: - Communication skills: - During the game, I used to interact with many individuals
which helped me in developing my communication skills through which proper
production could be done. Technological skills: - Through my effective technical skills and knowledge, it
supported me in implementing a user friendly game.

 Creativity: - It became important for me to attract maximum number of users and my
creativity supported me in designing the innovative game.
 Language programming: - With the help of using several languages, I developed my
programming skills also.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that academic integrity is a significant
concept for all students as well as universities to acquire positive outcomes and lead to high
grades. There are various types of academic misconduct like copying, plagiarism, cheating
and so on. As per the reflective cycle, there were several skills which got developed such as
technical, communication and many more.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Albrecht, V. and Clark, S., 2021. Post-disciplinary education with groups: In-person vs.
online. Canadian Perspectives on Academic Integrity, 4(1), pp.137-137.
Ali, I., Sultan, P. and Aboelmaged, M., 2021. A bibliometric analysis of academic
misconduct research in higher education: Current status and future research
opportunities. Accountability in research, pp.1-22.
Awosoga, O., and et.al, 2021. Motivators for student academic dishonesty at a medium sized
university in Alberta, Canada: Faculty and student perspectives. Canadian
Perspectives on Academic Integrity, 4(1), pp.91-109.
Booth, T., Stuhmcke, A. and Wangmann, J., 2020. There is plagiarism… and then there is
plagiarism: academic misconduct and admission to legal practice. International
Journal of the Legal Profession, 27(3), pp.291-316.
Crook, S. and Cranston, J., 2021. Punishment before pedagogy: An exploration of novice
writers' experiences of plagiarism in university contexts. Canadian Perspectives on
Academic Integrity, 4(1), pp.40-69.
Dinis-Oliveira, R.J., 2020. COVID-19 research: pandemic versus “paperdemic”, integrity,
values and risks of the “speed science”. Forensic sciences research, 5(2), pp.174-187.
Namatovu, W. and Gallavan, N.P., 2021. Professional Ethics and Pedagogical Integrity.
Online Teaching and Learning for Teacher Educators, p.93.
Zhu, J., 2020. New official documents of China addressing academic misconduct. Science
and engineering ethics, 26(3), pp.1881-1882.