Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has a reputation for producing strong, intelligent graduates, and through institutional recognition and international academic accreditation from the “Western Association of Schools and Colleges: Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC),” the university hopes to prolong that standing of integrity.
University officials note a drastic decrease in academic violations on the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain campuses, documenting that 334 cases were reported in 2009-2010, and only 30 total cases reported in 2015-2016 since the ADU’s Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) was developed in 2009.
OAI Head Dr. Hamdi Al Sheibani believes greatly reducing the academic challenges within the university is an integral part of the school’s strategic plan.
“The Office of Academic integrity has always implemented clear policies and regulations that regulate and respond to academic violations, including the declaration of different sanctions that depend on the severity and type of violation, which in some cases could lead to dismissals as the sanction for the most egregious type of academic integrity violation,” Al Sheibani said. “These rules mainly aim to instill the values and principles of personal and academic integrity, and professional transparency in our students, ensuring that upon graduation employers are assured that their future hire earned his/or her degree through hard and honest work; a quality valued by prestigious organizations worldwide.”
Academic violations have decreased from 30 percent during the 2011-2012 school year to only nine percent during the 2015-2016 academic year.
“Cheating violations have decreased from 76 cases during the academic year 2009 -2010 to only 14 cases in the 2015 -2016 academic year,” Al Sheibani said. “Interestingly, the incidents of plagiarism which is by far the most common type of academic integrity violation have declined from 196 cases in 2009 -2010 to only 14 cases in 2015 -2016. When compared to worldwide trends, these reduced instances of violations of academic integrity are record setting. Especially if we take into account research, surveys conducted by the International Center for Academic Integrity at Clemson University that state that 71,300 undergraduate university students, and 17,000 graduate students admit to cheating in some form during the past 12 years.”
In order to educate new students and remind those returning to the university, ADU’s Office of Academic Integrity organizes educational workshops each semester to remind the students of the policies of academic integrity. Penalties that can be imposed are also explained.
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