Academic Integrity
What is Academic Integrity? Why is it Important?
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity has been defined as “a commitment to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage” (International Centre for Academic Integrity, 2021, p. 4). Academic integrity is essential to achieving an equitable and accountable learning and research environment. It calls for the courage and strength to adhere to upright moral values, even in the face of adversity.
Maintaining academic integrity requires truth and honesty, and at times courage, and hard work. However, in return it enables and enhances your development not only as a scholar, but as a person, and as a member of the University community and wider society. Maintaining academic integrity allows both you and your professors to see the extent of the knowledge you have gained through your studies and hard work. It also advocates that no student is placed at an unfair disadvantage because of another’s dishonest behaviour. In this way academic integrity safeguards the reputation of the University, perceptions of graduates’ learning, and thus the value of your academic qualification.
University of Galway students chat about what academic integrity means to them.
Click here to watch the video “What is Academic Integrity” featuring University of Galway students.
Academic Misconduct
Breaches in academic integrity are called academic misconduct. This often involves a student submitting work that is not their own, in whole or part, and can include: plagiarism, unauthorised use of generative artificial intelligence, contract cheating, collusion, reuse of previously assessed work, cheating in examinations, and aiding other students’ cheating. The University of Galway Academic Integrity Policy highlights various types of unethical activities all of which constitute academic misconduct (pp.1-2). Other examples of academic misconduct, some of which are facilitated by recent technological developments, are outlined in The Plagiarism Spectrum 2.0 (© Turnitin 2023).
It is important to recognise that the vast majority of students do not set out on their academic path with the intention of being unethical. The website of the University of Galway Academic Integrity Office has a section on resources that may be particularly useful if you are finding your studies difficult and would benefit from some support. These resources allow students receive support in an ethical manner and thereby avoid the risk of academic misconduct.
Click here to view the University of Galway Academic Integrity Policy
Click here to visit the website of the University of Galway Academic Integrity Office
Click here to visit the Library’s webpage on academic integrity
The Library’s Academic Skills Service and Academic Writing Centre promote the ethical discovery, use, and creation of information. We can help you to access, critically evaluate, and use information, cite and reference correctly, and develop your academic writing. Support is provided through free workshops both online and in-person, as well as one-to-one support.
Click here to visit the Library’s Academic Skills Webpage
Click here to visit the Academic Writing Centre’s Webpage
