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A Conceptual Framework for Implementing Exemplary Academic Integrity Policy in Australian Higher Education

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Handbook of Academic Integrity

Abstract

This chapter proposes a conceptual framework for implementing exemplary academic integrity policy (the elements of which were identified by the Australian Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT)-funded Academic Integrity Standards Project [2010–2012]: access, approach, responsibility, detail, and support) to assist higher education providers improve academic integrity at their institutions. At the center of the framework is a commitment to a culture of academic integrity. The follow-up OLT-funded Exemplary Academic Integrity Project [2012–2013] identified six components which contribute to the development of this culture, including academic integrity champions, academic integrity education for staff and students, robust decision-making systems, record keeping for evaluation, and regular review of policy and process. The framework emphasizes a paradigm shift from misconduct to integrity and recognizes that academic integrity champions initiate and lead change, working with students as partners. It is recommended that the role of academic integrity breach data be broadened to include evaluation for improving educational practice.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback on an earlier draft of this chapter. Many of the reviewers’ insights have been incorporated in the current version.

We would also like to acknowledge the contributions made by the members of the Academic Integrity Standards Project (Julianne East, Margaret Green, Colin James, Ursula McGowan, Lee Partridge, Ruth Walker and Margaret Wallace), and the members of the Exemplary Academic Integrity Project (Karen van Haeringen and Leigh Pointon).

Support for this project/activity has been provided by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching. The views in this project do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, 5001, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Tracey Bretag

  2. Business School, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, 5001, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Saadia Mahmud

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  1. Tracey Bretag
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  2. Saadia Mahmud
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Correspondence to Tracey Bretag .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Australia, School of Management, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Tracey Bretag

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Bretag, T., Mahmud, S. (2016). A Conceptual Framework for Implementing Exemplary Academic Integrity Policy in Australian Higher Education. In: Bretag, T. (eds) Handbook of Academic Integrity. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-098-8_24

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