Developing and Evaluating Nationwide Expert-Delivered Academic Integrity Workshops for the Higher Education Sector in Australia

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Developing and Evaluating Nationwide Expert-Delivered Academic Integrity Workshops for the Higher Education Sector in Australia
Language: English
Authors: Curtis, Guy J. (ORCID 0000-0002-4174-6955), Slade, Christine (ORCID 0000-0002-2197-2824), Bretag, Tracey (ORCID 0000-0001-8433-2675), McNeill, Margot
Source: Higher Education Research and Development. 2022 41(3):665-680.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Program Development, Program Evaluation, Expertise, Integrity, Workshops, Foreign Countries, Faculty Development, College Faculty, Plagiarism, Cheating
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2021.1872057
ISSN: 0729-4360
1469-8366
Abstract: In 2019, the Australian higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), commissioned a team of academic integrity experts to design and facilitate a series of national workshops, with the aim of increasing academic integrity knowledge and building a culture of integrity across the higher education sector. As a team, we investigated whether these three-hour workshops would make a measurable difference to workshop participants' awareness of academic integrity issues and their confidence in their own institutions' practices. Three hundred and forty-two (342) workshop participants (representing 75.7% of attendees) completed pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys regarding their awareness of academic integrity issues and their confidence in their institutions' academic integrity practices. Results from the post-workshop surveys showed that the participants expressed significantly increased awareness about the Model Statement of Commitment to Academic Integrity, Australian and international academic integrity research, and ways to promote academic integrity. In addition, the participants expressed increased confidence in their institutions' risk-mitigation strategies and staff members' ability to detect contract cheating. However, these results were moderated by institution size and institution type (university vs. independent higher education provider). The evaluation data indicates that even a short staff development workshop can make a difference to participants' understanding and knowledge of academic integrity. We conclude that this type of focused and evidence-based professional development can make an important contribution to the development of a culture of academic integrity across the higher education sector, and can provide participants with avenues for subsequent professional development and institutional policy improvement.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2022
Accession Number: EJ1346757
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:In 2019, the Australian higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), commissioned a team of academic integrity experts to design and facilitate a series of national workshops, with the aim of increasing academic integrity knowledge and building a culture of integrity across the higher education sector. As a team, we investigated whether these three-hour workshops would make a measurable difference to workshop participants' awareness of academic integrity issues and their confidence in their own institutions' practices. Three hundred and forty-two (342) workshop participants (representing 75.7% of attendees) completed pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys regarding their awareness of academic integrity issues and their confidence in their institutions' academic integrity practices. Results from the post-workshop surveys showed that the participants expressed significantly increased awareness about the Model Statement of Commitment to Academic Integrity, Australian and international academic integrity research, and ways to promote academic integrity. In addition, the participants expressed increased confidence in their institutions' risk-mitigation strategies and staff members' ability to detect contract cheating. However, these results were moderated by institution size and institution type (university vs. independent higher education provider). The evaluation data indicates that even a short staff development workshop can make a difference to participants' understanding and knowledge of academic integrity. We conclude that this type of focused and evidence-based professional development can make an important contribution to the development of a culture of academic integrity across the higher education sector, and can provide participants with avenues for subsequent professional development and institutional policy improvement.
ISSN:0729-4360
1469-8366
DOI:10.1080/07294360.2021.1872057