Developing a Rational Policy on Plagiarism for Institutions of Higher Education: A Case of Gulu University

  • Kizito Ongaya, PhD Gulu University
  • Agatha Alidri Gulu University
  • Walter Yagos Onen Gulu University
  • Beatrice Odongkara Gulu University
  • Charles Okumu Gulu University
Keywords: Plagiarism, Academic Integrity, Policy Development, Higher Education Institutions, Plagiarism Detection Methods
Share Article:

Abstract

Globally, plagiarism is a pervasive issue in institutions of higher education, posing challenges to academic integrity and ethical standards. Developing a policy on plagiarism is crucial for maintaining the quality and credibility of academic work within these institutions. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of a rational policy on plagiarism. The following are the objectives; to benchmark requirements for anti-plagiarism; to model process of procurement and detection of plagiarism process in public universities in Uganda; to examine how the challenges of Inter-Repository Plagiarism was addressed at Gulu University. The study reviewed existing literature on plagiarism policies in higher education institutions worldwide. The findings were that universities have varying views on levels of plagiarism with some policies allowing as high as 30% plagiarism level in scholarly work. Most of the peer-reviewed journals demand much lower allowable levels of plagiarism to encourage originality and sustainable adherence to copyright and intellectual property policies

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adam, L., & Anderson, V. (2024).’ It’ s not fair ’:policy discourses and students ’ understandings of plagiarism in a New Zealand university Author ( s ): Lee Adam , Vivienne Anderson and Rachel Spronken-Smith Published by : Springer Stable URL : https://www.jstor.org/stable/26448742. Springer: Higher Education, Vol. 74, No. 1 (July 2017), Pp. 17-32, 74(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10734-016-0025-9

Ananth, C. (2019). Policy Document on Research Paper -Presentation, Its Ethics and Plagiarism at Higher Quality Accredited Institutions Policy Document on Research Paper - Presentation, Its Ethics and Plagiarism at Higher Quality. October. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18056.57608

Brown, V. J., & Howell, M. E. (2001). The Efficacy of Policy Statements on Plagiarism : Do They Change Students ’ Views ? Author (s): Verity J. Brown and Mark E. Howell Published by: Springer Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40196422 The Efficacy of Policy Statements On Plagiarism: Do They Change Students’ Views? 42(1), 103–118.

Devlin, M., & Devlin, M. (2006). Policy, Preparation, and Prevention: Proactive minimization of student plagiarism Policy, Preparation, and Prevention: Proactive minimization of student plagiarism. 9508. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600800500283791

Glendinning, I. (2017). Impact of Policies for Plagiarism in Higher Education Across Europe : Results of the Project Impact Of Policies for Plagiarism In Higher Education Across Europe : Results of The Project. January. https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun201563010207

Gulu University, (2022 (a)). Intellectual Property Management (IPM)Policy.

https://ir.gu.ac.ug/handle/20.500.14270/294

Gulu University, (2022 (b)). Institutional Repository Policy

https://ir.gu.ac.ug/handle/20.500.14270/295

Gulu University, (2022(c)). Gulu University Policy on Plagiarism. https://ir.gu.ac.ug/handle/20.500.14270/297

Habibzadeh, F. (2023). The Acceptable Text Similarity Level in Manuscripts Submitted to Scientific Journals. 38(31), 1–5.

Halupa, C. M. (2014). Exploring Student Self-Plagiarism. 3(1), 121– 126. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v3n1p121

Law, L., Ting, S., & Jerome, C. (2013). Cognitive dissonance in dealing with plagiarism in academic writing. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 97, 278–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.10.234

Mwamwenda, T. S. (2013). Maintaining academic integrity among East African university students Maintaining academic integrity among East African university students. 6627. https://doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2012.742670

Moshi Co-operative University, (2020). Antiplagiarism policy and guidelines. Sokoine, Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies. https://www.mocu.ac.tz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anti-plagiarism-Policy-2020.pdf

Ongaya, K., Alidri, A., Bagarukayo, E., Oyo, B., Bazibu, C. M., & Luyimbazi, G. (2024). International Journal of Advanced Research Ontology of Plagiarism: the Non Academic Perspectives. 7(1), 55– 70. https://doi.org/10.37284/ijar.7.1.1713.55

Oyewole, O. (2018). Awareness of Plagiarism Acts and Policy by Postgraduate Students in University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Rohwer, A., Wager, E., Young, T., & Garner, P. (2018). Plagiarism in research : a survey of African medical journals. 1– 8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024777

Roig, M. (2015). Avoiding plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and other questionable writing practices: A guide to ethical writing. 1–71.

Taylor, D. B. (2017). Plagiarism in Manuscripts Submitted to the. April, 712–720. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.16.17208

Wainaina, P.K. (2022). Anti-plagiarism policy and guidelines, Kenyatta University. https://graduates.ku.ac.ke/images/2024/Anti_Plagiarism_Policy2020.pdf

Zhang, Y. (2012). Against Plagiarism: A Guide for Editors and Authors. ISBN 978-3-319-

-6 ISBN 978-3-319-24160-9 (eBook). DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-24160-9 Zhejiang University Press, Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.

Published
15 August, 2024
How to Cite
Ongaya, K., Alidri, A., Onen, W., Odongkara, B., & Okumu, C. (2024). Developing a Rational Policy on Plagiarism for Institutions of Higher Education: A Case of Gulu University. East African Journal of Education Studies, 7(3), 339-353. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.7.3.2114