Academic Misconduct and their Implications

Analytical Report
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Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1Introduction PAGEREF _Toc103484417 \h 32Critical Analysis of Secondary Data and Discussion of Findings PAGEREF _Toc103484418 \h 42.1Forms of Academic Misconduct and their Implications PAGEREF _Toc103484419 \h 42.2Efficacy of Existing Interventional Measures PAGEREF _Toc103484420 \h 52.3The Underlying Factors Influencing Academic Misconduct in the Industry PAGEREF _Toc103484421 \h 63Concluding Remarks PAGEREF _Toc103484422 \h 74Recommendations PAGEREF _Toc103484423 \h 74.1Cultural Approach PAGEREF _Toc103484424 \h 74.2Adopting Advanced Technologies PAGEREF _Toc103484425 \h 74.3Sensitization Programs PAGEREF _Toc103484426 \h 85References PAGEREF _Toc103484427 \h 9
Analytical Report
Introduction
The adverse implications of academic misconduct on the quality of students graduating from Australia's institutions of higher education attracted the attention of the government stakeholders following heightened concern over the integrity of the country's higher education sector. In response to the recent outbursts in Australia on the rising cases of contract cheating in the higher education sector, the government enacted strict policy measures to curb the diverse forms of academic misconduct across the prided institutions of higher learning. Among such policies included the criminalization of contract cheating and student impersonation (Duffy, 2020). The government further conducted a nationwide crackdown on online platforms perpetuating students' engagement in contract cheating. The strong response from the Australian government toward safeguarding the integrity of the nation's institutions of higher learning warranted an exploration of the issue of academic misconduct in Australia's higher education.
Academic misconduct refers to any action or behavior that undermines the integrity of one's studies (University Australia, 2017). According to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act (TEQSA), academic misconduct refers to any action or behavior that undermines values of trust, honesty, respect, fairness, and responsibility in teaching, learning, and research in one's studies (TEQSA, 2022). It is a betrayal of the integrity of the students themselves, teaching staff, higher learning institutions, and the higher education industry. Australian researchers estimate that approximately 150,000 students across the country's universities have cheated in their studies (Duffy, 2020).
Thus, this project explores the manifestation of academic misconduct in the Australian higher education sector, its implications, the efficacy of existing policies and other frameworks in mitigating the issue, and the underlying factors perpetuating academic misconduct in the vital industry. An examination of three key areas will be conducted through the analysis of selected literature on the issue, including forms of academic misconduct and their implications, the efficacy of existing interventional measures, and the underlying factors influencing academic misconduct in the industry. It is hoped that the recommendations offered in this research will enhance the existing policies and mitigating frameworks against academic misconduct in Australia's higher educat...