FE Plagiarism Policy 2024/25

Plagiarism maybe defined as the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own without their consent. Plagiarism is prohibited as it involves stealing someone else’s work.

It can include but is not limited to:

• Stealing and passing off words or ideas of another as one’s own and/or using another’s words without crediting the source.
• Handing in someone else’s assignment or work and claiming it to be your own.
• Copying (or copying and pasting from the Internet) someone else’s words or text and passing it off as your own without giving credit for their work. This includes copying from AI sources, such as ChatGPT.
  
  

Plagiarism may be either intentional or unintentional. Intentional plagiarism occurs where a learner buys an essay or an assignment from an Internet site, or gets another person to do the work for them or gives false information about a source used in coursework. Unintentional plagiarism occurs where a learner is unaware that the activity is classified as cheating.

Learners must:

• Ensure all coursework is in their own words, unless they are quoting a referenced source. If an assessor doubts the work is the learner’s own, he/she will ask a learner to explain their work, and the learner should be able to do so to the satisfaction of the assessor.
• Credit work that is not their own regardless of where the ideas came from.
• Not share their coursework/assignments with other learners where it could lead to a learner being accused of collusion.
• Never use services that are available from the internet and offer to provide learners with coursework materials for a fee.
• Read SQA ‘Your Coursework’ (if you are registered for a SQA qualification).
• Understand the meaning of plagiarism and the potential consequences of submitting work that is not their own.
  
  

The awarding bodies issue strict guidelines that both assessors and learners must adhere to.  

Assessors must authenticate the learner’s work by:

• Paying attention to any changes in writing style that may indicate that a learner is using text from several authors.
• Paying attention to changes in font styles and sizes, and random hyperlinks.
• Asking the learner to explain what they have written.
• Checking phrases using a search engine when in doubt.
• Checking coursework using plagiarism detection software where available.
  
  

Collusion is defined as the act of collaborating with someone else on an assessment exercise which is intended to be wholly your own work, or the act of assisting someone else to commit plagiarism (Maguire, 2003).

Consequences of plagiarism or collusion

Where the Academy discovers or suspects an individual, or individuals, of plagiarism or collusion it will conduct an investigation in a form commensurate with the nature of the malpractice allegation.

Such an investigation will be initially undertaken by the IQA who will interview all personnel linked to the allegation and report to the Head of Quality.

The Academy will make the individual(s) aware (preferably in writing) at the earliest opportunity of the nature of the alleged malpractice and of possible consequences should malpractice be proven.

The investigation will follow the Academy Disciplinary Policy process and the Chair will issue one of the following findings:

1. No case to answer – in this incidence the submitted work will be assessed and verified following the Academy and awarding body procedures.
2. Allegation upheld – in this incidence the learner may be:
   • (a) Given the opportunity to submit a completely new piece of work and will receive a not competent or fail for the plagiarised work. However, the learner will not be permitted any more attempts than provided to an honest learner. If the learner fails to submit a new piece of work in the agreed timescale or produces work that is judged unsatisfactory; the learner will not be permitted to continue with the course. The learner will be accredited with any completed units if appropriate to do so and in accordance with the awarding body guidelines.
     
     

The learner will receive notice of the decision within seven working days.

Appeal

The learner will have a right to appeal the decision. Notice of appeal must be made in writing and addressed to the Academy Vice Principal. The appeal will be heard within 15 working days, with the learner receiving seven working days’ notice of the time and place of the appeal interview. The learner will be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or relative. The decision of the appeal will be confirmed in writing to the learner within seven working days.