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Complaints relating to academic misconduct

We have today published a casework note and some case summaries on complaints relating to academic misconduct.

Casework note Case summaries
Academic misconduct

The casework note draws out some themes from recent casework and the summaries illustrate some cases we have seen. We hope these new resources will be helpful to higher education providers, students and student representative bodies. 

Felicity Mitchell, Independent Adjudicator, said: 

“Higher education providers need to have in place fair processes to identify and address academic misconduct to help safeguard the value of the education they offer. But it’s important to set clear expectations of what is - and is not - allowed in assessments, and to remind students of these expectations during their studies. How providers address misconduct where it is suspected can affect both the fairness of the outcome and the wellbeing of the student involved. Concerns should be investigated carefully and the student must have a proper opportunity to respond to the case against them and have access to support through the process. Decision makers need to consider the evidence thoroughly and any penalty must be proportionate.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

For further information please contact Jenn Runde, Communications Officer, mediarelations@oiahe.org.uk, 0118 959 9813. 

  1. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is the independent student complaints ombuds service for higher education in England and Wales. It is the designated operator of the student complaints’ scheme under the Higher Education Act 2004. 
  2. Our Scheme is free to students and has been designed to be accessible to all students, without the need for legal representation. 
  3. We have a wide remit to review student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales, as set out in our Scheme Rules. 
  4. Our Good Practice Framework: Disciplinary procedures gives guidance for providers in designing disciplinary procedures and handling individual cases. 
  5. You can find further information about the Scheme and our work at https://www.oiahe.org.uk/.