University of Newcastle embroiled in plagiarism/ soft marking scandal

Big news down under at the moment is the scandal over plagiarism allegations at the University of Newcastle's offshore campus in Malaysia.

http://www.abc.net.au/newcastle/news/200308/s916119.htm

The Sunday show today interviewed Vice Chancellor, Professor Roger Holmes, answering allegations of a lecturer marking papers, failing 30% of the class due to alleged plagiarism, then the papers being re-marked by another lecturer with grades of Credit and Disctintion being awarded - see

http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/political_transcripts/article_1352.asp

Cheers,

George

 

Another for the file

Thanks George for the information. It adds another one to the file of universities, formerly of unimpeachable reputation, treating plagiarmism by burying it in an 'inquiry', downplaying its significance and thinking it only a blip, soon to be got over with the minimum of fuss. If challenged the response will be that the inquiry route is the most appropriate route, etc., and let's wait and see.

The Principal's response to the Minister's concern is a real worry. He did not seem to accept that if the allegations were true it would do immense damage to Australia's reputation and compromise its reputation for academic excellence. His stance appeared to be it isn't true therefore we have nothing to worry about. But he does have much to worry about if it is true. He should acknowledge the threat at least.

This head in the sand approach to plagiarism is typical of those at the top in academe: no threat is a problem until it becomes real, but that day is a long way off and most will have forgotten about it by then. Meanwhile, he gives the limp excuse that one of the alleged plagiarisers has graduated MBA and 'no mechanism' exists to withdraw the award! Rubbish, any award obtained by fraud - whether a degree, a job or a medal for valour, can always be revoked under natural justice, including in the former colony of New South Wales.

"If the U of N knowingly graduates people who have fraudently submitted work under their own name, which was written by somebody else, in what manner is the U of N different from a degree mill?" (Discuss)

 

They were cheating and the remedy should be :
1. Sack the CEO for failing to provide symbolic leadership necessary for the maintenance of ethical standards;
2. Discipline and reduce in rank those academics who have supported this misguided handling of the matter;
3. Fail the students who used the material;
4. Renounce the award of the degree based upon fraudulent effort;
5.Appoint a permanent independent commission to maintain standards of professionalism and scholarship generally within the Australian university system.

A clear and unequivocal message should be sent to the university system that they are accountable, particularly when so much public money is spent on them.

This was about trying to keep overseas marketshare in the short term and blatant disregard for the strategic interests of the university and, in deed, the country.

I personally doubt that this generosity of "blindness" would have been extended to a HECS student in Australia.

 

Now now, Ebbwvale, must feed multiculturalism. "Plagiarism" is such an insensitive term.

 

I assume there must be a government in Australia. What would they think about such things?

After the rousing welcome Greenwich received, one would have thought that quality of education was a real concern.

Maybe Greenwich's problem was merely a power play by state funded universities.

Maybe state funded universities are ticked off that they are denied entrance into the lucrative degree mill market.

 

The Malaysian students are not the only ones accused of plagiarism, as this story makes clear:

Compromised by copying allegations

I really hope Roger Holmes will resign (if his attitude has been reported correctly).