Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education
We examine the exigencies and impact of examination cheating, focusing specifically on the prevalence and risk of cheating taking place in examination venues. We document the problem with global coverage and note the consistency of the scourge and highlight the different approaches of institutions t...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academy of Science of South Africa
2019-11-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6281 |
| _version_ | 1818002459413446656 |
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| author | Narend Baijnath Divya Singh |
| author_facet | Narend Baijnath Divya Singh |
| author_sort | Narend Baijnath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We examine the exigencies and impact of examination cheating, focusing specifically on the prevalence and risk of cheating taking place in examination venues. We document the problem with global coverage and note the consistency of the scourge and highlight the different approaches of institutions to dealing with the risk. Stressing the prejudice arising from examination cheating to both universities specifically and society generally, one of the root causes of the risk, namely the moral compass and ethical norms of university students and the societies in which they function, is discussed. The innovation of students when working out cheating practices and the facilitating effects of technology are considered as a backdrop to exemplars of good practices that have been implemented to mitigate the reality and risk of examination fraud. Recognising examination cheating as a fraud on society and a critical risk to university reputation, we question whether university leadership recognises the risk and gives it adequate (and responsible) emphasis in strategic and operational organisational risk identification and management.
Significance:
• Cheating in examinations, and especially in the examination venue, is a global scourge. A comparison of global good practices is presented which provides a framework for institutional discussion to begin to address and transparently deal with the issues and impact of examination cheating.
• Acknowledging technology as one of the significant enablers of examination fraud and noting the constraints confronting universities, there is nevertheless a critical need for institutions to mitigate the risk. In not doing so, universities, which are fundamentally supported by the fiscus and public taxpayers, are committing a fraud on society.
• The attitude of some students and academic staff, as well as public perceptions to examination cheating raise the lid on a moral decay that is beginning to manifest in society globally.
• Universities are challenged to address the issue of examination cheating proactively, openly and honestly. The repercussions of failing to do so are highlighted and exemplars are provided of what can and has already been tried and tested to mitigate the risks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:46:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a65ebc83941b4f4ca03af81916a0c1e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:46:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a65ebc83941b4f4ca03af81916a0c1e52022-12-22T02:14:14ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892019-11-0111511/1210.17159/sajs.2019/62816281Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher educationNarend Baijnath0Divya Singh1Council on Higher Education, Pretoria, South AfricaSTADIO Holdings Ltd, Cape Town, South AfricaWe examine the exigencies and impact of examination cheating, focusing specifically on the prevalence and risk of cheating taking place in examination venues. We document the problem with global coverage and note the consistency of the scourge and highlight the different approaches of institutions to dealing with the risk. Stressing the prejudice arising from examination cheating to both universities specifically and society generally, one of the root causes of the risk, namely the moral compass and ethical norms of university students and the societies in which they function, is discussed. The innovation of students when working out cheating practices and the facilitating effects of technology are considered as a backdrop to exemplars of good practices that have been implemented to mitigate the reality and risk of examination fraud. Recognising examination cheating as a fraud on society and a critical risk to university reputation, we question whether university leadership recognises the risk and gives it adequate (and responsible) emphasis in strategic and operational organisational risk identification and management. Significance: • Cheating in examinations, and especially in the examination venue, is a global scourge. A comparison of global good practices is presented which provides a framework for institutional discussion to begin to address and transparently deal with the issues and impact of examination cheating. • Acknowledging technology as one of the significant enablers of examination fraud and noting the constraints confronting universities, there is nevertheless a critical need for institutions to mitigate the risk. In not doing so, universities, which are fundamentally supported by the fiscus and public taxpayers, are committing a fraud on society. • The attitude of some students and academic staff, as well as public perceptions to examination cheating raise the lid on a moral decay that is beginning to manifest in society globally. • Universities are challenged to address the issue of examination cheating proactively, openly and honestly. The repercussions of failing to do so are highlighted and exemplars are provided of what can and has already been tried and tested to mitigate the risks.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6281universityacademic integritygraduate valuespurpose of higher educationgraduate competencies |
| spellingShingle | Narend Baijnath Divya Singh Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education South African Journal of Science university academic integrity graduate values purpose of higher education graduate competencies |
| title | Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| title_full | Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| title_fullStr | Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| title_short | Examination cheating: Risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| title_sort | examination cheating risks to the quality and integrity of higher education |
| topic | university academic integrity graduate values purpose of higher education graduate competencies |
| url | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6281 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT narendbaijnath examinationcheatingriskstothequalityandintegrityofhighereducation AT divyasingh examinationcheatingriskstothequalityandintegrityofhighereducation |