Importance of Academic Integrity in Higher Education

This article discusses the importance of academic integrity in higher education and its implications. It explores the steps taken and difficulties encountered in producing a game to promote academic integrity. The article emphasizes the role of academic integrity in shaping the future of students, universities, and the country.

FURTHER ACADEMIC SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SECTION- 1....................................................................................................................................1
Academic Integrity.......................................................................................................................1
Importance of academic integrity in higher education................................................................2
Implications of academic misconduct..........................................................................................3
SECTION- 2....................................................................................................................................4
Steps taken and difficulties encountered in producing the game.................................................4
Reflection on the skills and learnings from the game..................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Academic integrity refers to the concept of inculcating the values and ethical code of
conduct in the process of academic learning and skill development. The moral values like the
honesty, trust, fairness, equality, respect, responsibility and concern for the mankind. These
qualities are eventually developed by the educational programme run in the different institutions
are universities. The current project shall be building the conceptual understanding of the
academic integrity and the importance of building such values in the higher education level.
Apart from that the project shall also be describing the implications and consequences in the
absence of such integrity, when the academic misconduct takes place.
SECTION- 1
Academic Integrity
The academic integrity is the concept that is being applied in the educational institutes
and the universities in order to ensure the overall growth and development of personality of the
students. This is done by organizing the special organizational programmes, events that helps in
inculcating the moral values and ethical code of conduct in the academic learnings and
knowledge driven activities. The maintenance of the academic integrity refers to the
enhancement in certain skills and personality traits in the individual behaviour and the habits in
respect of values like honesty, fairness, truthfulness, trustworthiness, non-judgemental, non-
stereotypical, non-discriminatory attitude, equal treatment, giving respect, thinking for the
welfare of the society and also fulfilling all the roles and the responsibilities that are prominently
existing in the society (Ellis and et.al., 2020). It refers to execution these values in the work
performed, routine activities, various practices undertaken at the institution level and following
the conventions that are related to scholarship.
This is done through the organizing of the various modules, coursework, tutorials and the
creative events in order to develop these qualities in the students. This is a slow and gradual
process that takes place over time starting from the primary level of education, to the secondary
and to the higher secondary level of organization. There are five pillars of academic integrity
which are being built through the various activities and are tried to be built in the personality of
the students. The first pillar is honesty is sincerity and is the best policy which must be followed
within as well as outside the educational institute. This helps in developing better relations, better
image and simplifies the real life situations of the individual. This can be inculcated in the
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students by teaching them that cheating in the exams is the bas practice and one must doing this.
The second pillar is associated with the attitude of trustworthiness towards others as being
trusted is the better compliment than being loved by others. This is conducted through the
formation of teams and working in collaboration so that they are bonded to one another and trust
is developed amongst them (Ahmed, 2020). The third pillar is with respect to being fair in all the
practices that are conducted in life. The fairness is through equality among all the colleagues and
being non-stereotypical or judgemental for any of them. The fourth pillar is by functioning in the
real life with due respect to the others, showing concern for all mankind like even the peons of
the school and the universities. This can be done through following the leaders and eventually
being rightfully guided by them. The last pillar of the academic integrity demonstrates that a
student must be responsible and accountable for all the actions that are taken by them.
Academic integrity is very essential as it builds the foundation of the personality from the
very tender age and so it plays major role in the future of the country that shall be there
tomorrow. The institutes must put their best foot forward in terms of incorporating these
practices on the educational programme and developing the capacity of the students.
Importance of academic integrity in higher education
Academic integrity is of major significance at all stages of life right from the beginning
that lays the foundation of the human nature till the higher education level which prepares them
to be exposed to the real world and behave according to the qualitative traits that are pursued
them. Such academic integrity that is being provided at the higher education level plays a relative
importance in shaping the future of the student, university and the country (Mathrani and et.al.,
2021). There are some crucial significances governing the requirement of academic integrity at
the higher education level :-
 One of the major importance of academic integrity can be that it discourages any kind of
academic misconducts like cheating, plagiarism, ragging, gender biases, discriminatory
policies, stereotypical attitude, theft, fraudulent practices, violent turpitude etc. In order to
avoid any of these unfair practices within and outside the institutional environment the
basic moral values like honesty, trustworthiness, fair treatment, respect and
responsibilities are to be inculcated in the students (Why is academic integrity so
important? 2021).
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 Another major significance can be that academic integrity has been leading to creative
thinking process and knowledgeable ideas among the students and teachers. This is
because practices like cheating, plagiarism, dishonesty, copying etc. are discouraged
within the institution which gives rise to thoughtfulness and builds the mental capacity
and creative quotient of an individual. This creativity shall be developing better growth
prospects for their future (Guerrero-Dib, Portales and Heredia-Escorza, 2020).
 The attitude of mutual respect and responsibilities towards other people in the society
shall be boosting the welfare and establishing friendly relations with them. This is a
major contributor of harmony, peace, social welfare, unity in diversity, environmental
protection, upliftment of the unprivileged and building better public relations.
 As it can be assessed that post the higher educational level the person is ready to enter the
corporate field where it shall become very important to apply all these value systems in
the company to achieve the organizational objectives. The personality traits like
teamwork, responsible attitude, mutual respect for colleagues, honesty, fairness with the
subordinates, trustworthiness on the leaders in the organization are requires for smooth
functioning of the business enterprise.
These importance shows that development of the academic integrity at the higher education level
of the university is a pretty difficult task and so the programmes must be effectively designed by
the qualified personnels of the institute.
Implications of academic misconduct
The academic misconduct refers to the actions like cheating, plagiarism, copying,
dishonest behaviour, violent turpitude, ragging unauthorized collaboration and the unfair
treatment. These activities that are taking place at the institute level shall be continuing in a
person in future which shall be leading them to face the consequences (Bultas and et.al., 2017).
There are implications for such academic misconduct that can be faced by the students staying
within the organization. The first and foremost could be that in respect of the wrongful deeds that
are performed by the students for which the implications suffered by them are rustication,
suspension, expulsion and defaming the parents. Sometimes these implication can be in the form
of monetary payments like fines, fees, charges, penalties etc.
If the case is related to some violent acts or moral turpitude it can also enforce legal
parameters over the guilty. The legal suite can be the outcome of such actions that are
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undertaken with the inappropriate intentions. This further distorts the reputation of the university
and spreads the negative word of mouth among the future potential students that could have been
affiliated with the organization as it gets conveyed that the proper academic integrity practices
are not being followed in the institution.
Academic misconducts are to be strictly governed at these higher education levels where
students mostly feel the freedom to exercise at their free will and have certain improper thoughts
to apply shortcut to various affairs of life. Implementing the different practices for ensuring
academic integrity is an important constituent but more importantly proper governance measures
must be ensured so that any of the improper acts are being avoided and the unnecessary
defamation can be prevented at both ends.
SECTION- 2
Steps taken and difficulties encountered in producing the game
Designing a game is a crucial task that shall be involving various steps that are to be
undertaken by the tutors in the University. In order to effectively design the game the initial step
is to know the objectives and goals that are to be fulfilled by the means of creating this game.
Suppose in the current scenario the game is framed so that the problem associated with the
academic misconduct can be tackled in the form of plagiarism where the ideas and matter of
others are being taken in order to obtain the unfair advantage in the submission of the
assignment. Then the next step that is to be followed is the planning of how to design the game
effectively such that the scope of plagiarism is ended and that the students are enforced to
strategically think and apply their own brains in any particular situation. This can be done with
the indulging and attracting power of the game that is developed by the management of the
institution (Tatum and Schwartz, 2017).
Further it can be assessed that the next step in line is the execution process of the game
post which the outcome shall be received in the form of accomplishments of the target
performance by the students. Based on these results they are to be appraised and motivated so
that the quality as to doing self work and not taking unfair advantage of others is being
developed in the students. This leads to the successful implementation of the game and thereby
the practices that are associated with the academic integrity.
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Reflection on the skills and learnings from the game
I have experienced a tremendous journey of ups and downs in the University while it was
a learning and knowledgeable experience. The academic integrity was one of the major concerns
of our tutors and every now and then sessions, activities, games and other events were carried so
that the various moral values and ethical code of conduct could be enunciated among our
personalities. All the programmes that were organized had some or the other learnings and
creative thoughts behind that has greatly contributed in developing the overall personality of
mine.
The games that were designed in order to remove the academic misconduct that was
taking place in the form of plagiarism which means that the students used to take the unfair
advantage of the data that was created by others and through this process they used to excel in
the examinations or the assignments. These games have significantly contributed in the
development of skills like the orientation, communication, strategically thinking skills, decision-
making skills etc (Morris, 2018). Apart from this the morale of the students have been boosted
and they have developed enthusiasm in respect of learning and teaching process of the
academics. This has built confidence and the various personality traits like the honesty, fairness,
truthfulness and equality among the institute.
This has progressed the growth and development in the students and they have become
passionate to achieve their career goals. They are also filled with the awareness regarding their
roles and responsibilities towards the society and its affairs. It has also discouraged any kind of
violence and improper acts in the community which has lead to the complete development and
future growth of the economy.
CONCLUSION
It can be summarized from the above project that academic integrity id pf major
significance in the educational training and development programmes as it inculcates the
ethically and socially responsible character traits in the personality of the students who are the
future of the country. It shall also be assisting in avoiding academic misconduct practice that can
be otherwise be undertaken by the students. In order to govern and ensure appropriate behaviour
the skills are being developed eventually through the various programmes, events, modules,
tutorials, course work and campaigns generating the awareness for the same. This will also be
contributing to the positive publicity and enhancing brand reputation for the university.
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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.
Bultas, M. W. and et.al., 2017. Crossing the “line”: college students and academic integrity in
nursing. Nurse education today. 56. pp.57-62.
Ellis, C. and et.al., 2020. Does authentic assessment assure academic integrity? Evidence from
contract cheating data. Higher Education Research & Development. 39(3). pp.454-469.
Guerrero-Dib, J. G., Portales, L. and Heredia-Escorza, Y., 2020. Impact of academic integrity on
workplace ethical behaviour. International Journal for Educational Integrity. 16(1).
pp.1-18.
Mathrani, A. and et.al., 2021. Interpreting academic integrity transgressions among learning
communities. International Journal for Educational Integrity. 17(1). pp.1-16.
Morris, E. J., 2018. Academic integrity matters: five considerations for addressing contract
cheating. International journal for educational integrity. 14(1). pp.1-12.
Tatum, H. and Schwartz, B. M., 2017. Honor codes: Evidence based strategies for improving
academic integrity. Theory Into Practice. 56(2). pp.129-135.
Online
Why is academic integrity so important? 2021. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.uow.edu.au/about/governance/academic-integrity/teachers/
importance/>
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