ALTC Research Findings

Our analysis of academic integrity policies from 39 Australian universities indicates that while there has been a move away from a negative and punitive approach to a positive focus on integrity, more needs to be done, particularly in relation to policies with mixed messages.

Our preliminary findings also point to the need for academic integrity policies to clearly indicate responsibilities for all academic integrity stakeholders, from an institutional perspective and beginning at the highest level (senior management), to teaching and professional staff and students. We maintain that academic integrity is not solely a student issue or responsibility. Finally, our preliminary analysis has concurred with previous research which has suggested that there is inconsistency in the way that academic integrity is both represented and responded to in university policy.

The examples of good practice which are currently being identified by our project will provide the basis for policy exemplars which will have the potential to influence future iterations of academic integrity policies in Australian higher education. It may be the case that not any one policy is an exemplar in its own right, and that a final exemplar is likely to be a combination of exemplary elements from a number of academic integrity policies.

Presentations about the project:

To the University of Wollongong University Education Committee (UEC)
- presentation by Margaret Wallace (May 2011)

To the Australian Universities Quality Forum
- presentation by Julianne East (July 2011)

To the Macquarie University Academic Integrity Symposium
- presentation by Ruth Walker (July 2011)

To the 5th Asia Pacific Conference on Educational Integrity (5APCEI) UWA 26-28th Sept 2011
- one paper based on Stage 1 of the ALTC project was presented:
"Core elements of exemplary academic integrity policy in Australian higher education" , a refereed paper and presentation by Tracey Bretag, Saadia Mahmud, Margaret Wallace, Ruth Walker, Colin James, Margaret Green, Julianne East, Ursula McGowan and Lee Partridge

- two other papers inspired by the work of the ALTC project were also presented at 5APCEI:
"Evaluating educational approaches to academic integrity in Australian universities' policies"
Ursula McGowan, Ruth Walker and Margaret Wallace
"Academic integrity as a university responsibility: What is the readability of your policy?"
Margaret Green and Gisela van Kessel

Student survey on academic integrity:
The online student survey for the project had over 15,000 participants. Each of the six team member universities selected a student from a random draw to win an iPad2. More details about the six winners and photos of them receiving their prizes can be found here.

Documents: