Academic Integrity and Misconduct: Implications and Importance in Higher Education

This project explains the importance of academic integrity in higher education and the implications of academic misconduct. It also reflects on the skills learned during the academic year and the difficulties encountered while playing a game. The project provides an overview of academic integrity and discusses the importance of upholding it in higher education. It also highlights the implications of academic misconduct and the consequences of cheating in the academic world.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
SECTION 1.....................................................................................................................................3
An overview including a description of academic integrity........................................................3
Discussing importance of academic integrity in higher education..............................................4
Discussion of the implications of the academic misconduct.......................................................5
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................6
Reflecting on steps taken and difficulties encountered while playing game...............................6
Reflecting on skills learned during academic year......................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's work or idea with or without their
consent. It is also said as the incorporation else's work without full acknowledgement. It allows
the publishers and unpublished materials to be manuscript in an electric form. This project is
about a game on plagiarism which is the topic for the academical integrity and is going to be
very important for the learners as a misconduct. The major implications of the academic
misconduct can be said to be the most important factor which is essential for the management of
the higher educations.
SECTION 1
An overview including a description of academic integrity
Academic integrity is considered as the key expectations of tutors, researchers and
learners as well as all the members of academic university that act with trust, respect, fairness
and accountably. According to this concept, teachers may expect from all the students who are
taking approach to develop their understanding about specific concept or subject in excellent
manner. It is considered as fundamental to learn, teach, and investigate at specific education
organization regarding particular subject (Tatum and Schwartz, 2017). It can be said that
academic integrity may permit each learner and staff member to take pleasure of freedom which
drive their attention toward building new ideas, understanding and creative works while
acknowledging and respecting work of others. It may also enable them to be creative and write
their own content without using other students work, as it refers to academic misconduct. In the
education world, students may expect to uphold academic integrity during their higher education
or study (Gottardello and Karabag, 2020). The best way to conduct this practice is collaboration

and coordination with tutors when they are facing challenges to complete their assessment and
collecting key information about specific topic. Plagiarism is such an aspect of the academic
integrity which is the basically stealing of someone else's ideas, words. Theories, illustrations or
graphics and taking credit for that is considered to be a dishonest way of summarizing or
paraphrasing of the words and ideas without giving major credit t someone else for the receiving
credit. It can cause the students to get suspended or expelled as the plagiarism is basically a
unethical practice in which they steam other writers content and shows it as their own and are
able to gain to full control over the management of the organization (Burgason, Sefiha and
Briggs, 2019.).
Discussing importance of academic integrity in higher education
In order to get higher education, students efforts a lot as they conduct varied activities
and practices, which play vital role in success and their career growth, whether it is related to
personal or professional life. It is quite important for students to conduct academic integrity as
key practice in higher study, which may contribute to gain high scores and gain the trust of
teachers who are providing key knowledge and understanding about different subjects (Ahmed,
2020). It may support to make students capable to keep themselves away from plagiarism that
may put direct impact on their performance and presentation in class room when they are taking
initiative to obtain higher education. It is essential for learners to take this concept into their
consideration, which play significant role in term of their growth. It may allow them to be
effective and attentive all the time, without taking action to copy other work, which is quite
easier to do but not beneficial at all. As it may lead to decrease the effectiveness and creative
mind of people. Another reason due to which academic integrity is essential to consider and that
is description of values that this term held to be important in academic institutes or in higher
study in the UK and other nations as well. By doing their own work without making plag, may
permit learners to build trustworthy relationship with their tutors who are always ready to boost
their morale, enhance performance and develop comprehending about multiple concepts that are
beneficial for each learner. Academic integrity may develop and improve knowledge level
among students effectively in term of driving their attention toward creating their own
presentation and assessment, which they present in front of tutors and gain high scores
throughout it. It is very important for the learners to keep academical integrity in their
performance. The analysation of the application of the academical integrity can develop a

discipline in the learners and specially the honest students which work hard for achieving their
academical results and a result of that the individuals are able to be motivated towards their
studies (Mohan, 2018). Academical integrity management also keeps the grading system of the
academical body fair is somewhat motivational towards the students and also provide the every
individual equal opportunities.
Discussion of the implications of the academic misconduct
The implication of having an academic misconduct can cause major implications in the
learning and academics of a student's life. Those learners which are involved in the engagement
of a neutralization which justifies the cheating can also be the main reason which can effect the
future of the individual. As per some study it was found that those students which were involved
in some kind of academical misconduct are much more likely to be involved in the fraudulent
activities in the career and jobs. These misconduct cause negative affects in the environment and
as a result of which it creates dishonesty after the graduation which is considered to be the
important document in the labour market. Plagiarism is known to be an academical misconduct
as it is copying or imitation of someone else's work which is shown by an unfaithful student to
be his own. This can create issues between those students which have worked hard for achieving
these results in comparison to those who have utilized the process of plage in their work
(Gladwin, 2018).
The academic dishonesty is a problem for the teachers which decreases the actual gain of
knowledge by the students and their production knowledge towards the emotional distress and
lac of real knowledge towards the application of the learning methods. Plagiarism is also a kind
of academical misconduct which is a type of cheating by the student in which they steal someone
else's work and represents it as their own. Such dishonesty is said to undermine the actual
learning in the academic world as it interferes with the basic mission of the education that
influences the knowledge allowing the students to get effected without having to master the
actual and real knowledge. This is the most damaging to the honest students as they start
believing that their handwork is getting wasted as other find a unethical way of reaching success
in the learning (Academic integrity at MIT, 2021). The major consequences of cheating in the
academical world that leaders to academical misconduct can be very serious and can lead to
suspension or even expulsion from the institute. Such sort of violation of rules can also outline

the handbook which is established by the instructors and also be deviation from the responsibility
of conducting research.
SECTION 2
Reflecting on steps taken and difficulties encountered while playing game
Initially, I asked students to gather in the hall so that further instructions can be given to
them about the game. All the students gathered in the hall, then I started giving them the
instructions about game which are as follows:
 I made announcement that each student will come one by one and will be given a
piece of cake in which there will be letter. Student has to say one word from that
particular letter which will be related to academic misconduct and academic
integrity.
 I also told them that a student answering the word will get a piece of cake for
motivation and encouragement purpose, further student not answering will not get a
piece of paper and that will be passed on to another student.
 In addition to this, student will not be allowed to choose a letter on their own, I will
provide them with a piece of cake on which word is written.
 I also instructed them for not using any internet or book materials for finding the
word related to academic misconduct.
 Moreover, I said that one minute time will be given to each student for thinking
about the word. After completion of one minute, they will lose a chance to answer
the word.
Difficulties faced:
 The first problem I faced during the game was that students were not listening to me
properly due to which instructions given to them were not accurately understood by them.
They were shouting on top of their voice and it was difficult to handle such large
audience.
 Further, I saw that students were very weak in communication, therefore, were not able to
state their point of view which affected their game and they lost.

 In addition to this, I faced that students were not completely engaged in the game and
were not participating in it with full enthusiasm. Students were not playing game with
learning mentality.
 Students were not willing to grasp knowledge and understanding about the game. They
were just playing game to win it and not to learn new concepts and words which will help
to enhance their vocabulary.
 I also faced that students were not determined and were not playing game with full
dedication. I have to motivate them several times to take initiative and play game in a
required manner.
Reflecting on skills learned during academic year
Lot of skills were developed during academic year and students also learned various skills
and abilities during the conduct of game. These skills are as follows:
 I learned the skill and ability to handle so many students effectively. Arranging all
students and making them aware about the game is not an easy task which I handled
carefully.
 Further, I learned to remain determined and dedicated towards game till the last
minute. I also encouraged and motivated students to quickly answer the word in
order to win the game.
 Lot of students were having problems and issues during the game which I tackled
properly and learned skill of solving problems efficiently. The ability to solve
problem quickly and smoothly is very important in today’s dynamic world which I
have developed through this game (Franciosi, 2017).
 I also acquired the skill of leading a game in well manner. Leadership qualities are
very beneficial to have which helps a person to effectively lead a team and manage
things so that work is completed on time.
 In addition to this, I also learned the way of communicating effectively with a large
audience. Communication skills are very crucial because it helps a person to state his
point of view systematically (Huizenga and et.al., 2017).
 Furthermore, I learned the capability of collaborated work which means able to work
in large groups with proficiency and productively managing the things.

 I also learned to adapt to the different cultures of different students and making them
engaged to paly game effectively. Being adaptable and making students comfortable
was the key skill that I learned.
 I hosted the complete game with full curiosity to learn new words and understand the
importance of academic integrity and misconduct. In todays’ competitive
environment a person should always have learning attitude towards new concepts
and beliefs which enables him to work proficiently.
 I also grasped the social skills, that is, engaging with all students and learning about
them, their minds in order to encourage them to participate in the game and win it.
Social skills are favourable to have which helps a person to effectively work in
teams.
CONCLUSION
With the help of this project it can be concluded that plagiarism is a kind of academical
misconduct which is needed to be managed by the academical bodies for the maintenance of the
academical misconduct. This project explains the importance of academic integrity in higher
education. It also explains the implications of the academical misconduct and with the help of
this project the present finding are and appropriate use of referencing techniques are shown.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahmed, K., 2020. Academic integrity: Challenges and strategies for Asia and the Middle East.
Accountability in research. 27(5). pp.256-270.
Burgason, K.A., Sefiha, O. and Briggs, L., 2019. Cheating is in the eye of the beholder: An
evolving understanding of academic misconduct. Innovative Higher Education. 44(3).
pp.203-218.
Gladwin, T.E., 2018. Educating students and future researchers about academic misconduct and
questionable collaboration practices. International Journal for Educational
Integrity. 14(1). pp.1-7.
Gottardello, D. and Karabag, S.F., 2020. Ideal and actual roles of university professors in
academic integrity management: a comparative study. Studies in Higher Education.
pp.1-19.
Mohan, V., 2019. On the use of blockchain-based mechanisms to tackle academic
misconduct. Research Policy. 48(9). p.103805.
Tatum, H. and Schwartz, B.M., 2017. Honor codes: Evidence based strategies for improving
academic integrity. Theory Into Practice. 56(2). pp.129-135.
Huizenga, J. C. and et.al., 2017. Teacher perceptions of the value of game-based learning in
secondary education. Computers & Education. 110. pp.105-115.
Franciosi, S. J., 2017. The effect of computer game-based learning on FL vocabulary
transferability. J. Educ. Technol. Soc.. 20(1). pp.123-133.
Online
Academic integrity at MIT, 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://integrity.mit.edu/handbook/academic-integrity-mit/what-are-consequences>