elevating academic integrity in tertiary institutions in nigeria keynote address presented at the...

ELEVATING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

KEYNOTE ADDRESS PRESENTED AT THE WORKSHOP ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN

NIGERIA, HELD AT THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACADEMY OF NIGERIA

JULY 6-7, 2015

BY

PROFESSOR PETER OKEBUKOLA, OFRPRO-CHANCELLOR & CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, CRAWFORD UNIVERSITY, IGBESAIMMEDIATE PAST EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION

• PROTOCOLS & ACKNOWLEDGMENT

• INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

IT IS A DELIGHT TO PRESENT THIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST IN THE SERIES OF WORKSHOPS ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY FOR HEADS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA. THE WORKSHOP WHICH BEGINS TODAY IS BEING ATTENDED BY VERY SENIOR ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM AS AT TODAY, THE 6TH OF JULY 2015, IS MADE UP OF 147 UNIVERSITIES (46 FEDERAL, 40 STATE AND 61 PRIVATE). I EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORS, CHAIRPERSONS OF COMMITTEE OF DEANS, REGISTRARS, DIRECTORS OF ACADEMIC PLANNING AND OTHERS WHO HAVE MADE IT TO KILOMETRE 46, ABUJA-KEFFI EXPRESSWAY, KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE, WHERE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACADEMY OF NIGERIA IS LOCATED.

THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACADEMY OF NIGERIA UNDER THE PROVOSTSHIP OF PROFESSOR SOLA AKINRINADE WHO SERVED MERITORIOUSLY AS FOUNDATION VICE-CHANCELLOR OF OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY, DESERVES COMMENDATION FOR BRINGING US HERE WITH A VIEW TO BUILDING CAPACITY OF THE NIGERIAN HIGHER (TERTIARY) EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO RESPOND MORE POSITIVELY AND SUSTAINABLY TO THE CHALLENGES TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN OUR INSTITUTIONS. WE APPLAUD THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC) FOR SETTING UP THE ACADEMY WHICH WE ARE SURE WILL BE ONE OF THE MAJOR SUCCESS STORIES OF THE MR. EKPO NTA-LED COMMISSION IN ITS QUEST TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA. THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF THE ACADEMY IS OF COURSE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT A MENTION OF PROFESSOR OLU AINA WHO PLAYED A DISTINCT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE APPROVAL OF THE ACADEMY BY THE BOARD OF ICPC. NO DOUBT, ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF OF ICPC PLAYED NOTEWORTHY ROLES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACADEMY WHICH IS HOSTING US TODAY.

IN THIS BRIEF KEYNOTE ADDRESS, IT IS MY INTENTION TO DO THREE THINGS. FIRST, I SHALL SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. NEXT, WILL BE TO REVIEW THE STATE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA. THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WILL BE TO EXPLORE WITH YOU THE ACTIONS THAT WE ALL MUST TAKE TO ENSURE WE MAINTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY ON OUR CAMPUSES.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

INTEGRITY, REGARDLESS OF THE QUALIFIER ADJECTIVE IS A STATE OF STEADFASTLY ADHERING TO HIGH MORAL PRINCIPLES OR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. A PERSON OF INTEGRITY LIKE THE CHAIRMAN OF ICPC, BARRISTER EKPO NTA, DOES NOT COMPROMISE STANDARDS. HE OR SHE UPHOLDS CORE VALUES OF HUMANITY ESPECIALLY HONESTY AND CAN BE TAKEN FOR HIS OR HER WORDS. RULES ARE NOT BENT TO SUIT PARTICULAR PERSON OR SITUATION. I WILL, THEREFORE, DEFINE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AS “ADHERENCE TO A STATE OF HIGH MORAL PRINCIPLES AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND VALUES IN SCHOLARSHIP ESPECIALLY IN TEACHING, LEARNING AND RESEARCH.” EMBODIED IN THIS DEFINITION IS HONESTY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN SCHOLARSHIP. I AM SURE PROFESSOR AKINRINADE WILL LEAD PARTICIPANTS TO COME UP WITH A WORKING DEFINITION THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS AT THIS WORKSHOP WILL ENDORSE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE ACADEMY TO HAVE ITS CUSTOMISED DEFINITION AS BASIS FOR ITS OPERATIONS AND PLANS ESPECIALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS RELATING TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

LET US IDENTIFY SOME BEHAVIOURS WHICH ARE FORMS OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT RELATING TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. THESE INCLUDE:

KNOWINGLY REPRESENTING THE WORK OF OTHERS AS ONE'S OWN.

USING, OBTAINING, OR PROVIDING UNAUTHORISED ASSISTANCE ON EXAMINATIONS, PAPERS, OR ANY OTHER ACADEMIC WORK.

FABRICATING DATA IN SUPPORT OF LABORATORY OR FIELD WORK.

FORGING A SIGNATURE TO CERTIFY COMPLETION OF A COURSE ASSIGNMENT OR A RECOMMENDATION TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.

UNFAIRLY ADVANCING ONE'S ACADEMIC POSITION BY HOARDING OR DAMAGING LIBRARY MATERIALS.

MISREPRESENTING ONE'S ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

INDICATORS OF AND MEASURING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

HAVING OPERATIONALLY DEFINED ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, WHAT ARE ITS INDICATORS ON THE BASIS OF WHICH WE CAN MEASURE THE CONCEPT? THE INDICATORS INCLUDE:

NUMBER OF PROVEN CASES OF EXAMINATION MISCONDUCT/MALPRACTICE IN A GIVEN YEAR RELATIVE TO TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION.

PROPORTION OF PLAGIARISED UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT REPORTS AND HIGHER DEGREE PROJECTS, DISSERTATION AND THESES IN A GIVEN YEAR.

NUMBER OF PROVEN CASES OF FUDGED RESEARCH DATA BY STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY PER SESSION.

NUMBER OF PROVEN CASES OF CERTIFICATE/ACADEMIC DOCUMENT FALSIFIED IN A GIVEN YEAR.

PROPORTION OF DISHONEST REPORTING ON ACADEMIC STAFF BY SUPERVISING OFFICERS IN THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (APER).


PERCENTAGE OF EXAMINATION SCRIPTS REPORTED BY EXTERNAL EXAMINERS TO BE WRONGLY GRADED IN FAVOUR OF OR AGAINST SOME CANDIDATES.

PERCENTAGE OF LECTURERS WHO ARE LATE TO OR ABSENT IN CLASS PER SESSION.

PERCENTAGE OF ALTERED (“DOCTORED”) MARK SHEETS PROVEN BY FACULTY BOARDS AND SENATE IN A GIVEN SESSION TO FAVOUR OR DISFAVOUR CANDIDATES.

PERCENTAGE OF FALSE CLAIMS BY STUDENTS IN A SESSION TO SECURE ACADEMIC ADVANTAGE E.G. FALSE CLAIM OF HOSPITALISATION TO EXPLAIN ABSENCE FROM A SCHEDULED EXAMINATION.

STABILITY INDEX OF THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR.PROPORTION OF STUDENTS EXPELLED FOR CERTIFICATE

FORGERY RELATIVE TO TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION.


I URGE THE ACADEMY TO DERIVE BY CONSENSUS AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, A SET OF INDICATORS DURING THIS SERIES OF WORKSHOPS ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, FROM WHICH ALL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA ARE MEASURED. THE SCORES ON THESE INDICATORS CAN BE BASIS FOR THE ACADEMY TO EVOLVE A SCHEME OF RANKING NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY INITIALLY CLUSTERED INTO HIGH, AVERAGE AND LOW. THE RESULTANT WILL BE A TABLE WHICH HAS THE LIST OF ALL UNIVERSITIES WITH A SCORE RANGE IN THE “HIGH” CATEGORY”, PERHAPS 70% AND ABOVE; THE LIST OF ALL UNIVERSITIES IN THE “AVERAGE” CATEGORY (50-69%) AND A LIST OF THOSE IN THE LOW CATEGORY (LESS THAN 50%) OVER TIME, THIS CAN EVOLVE TO RANKING FROM 1ST (UNIVERSITY WITH THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC INTEGRITY) TO 147TH (UNIVERSITY WITH THE LEAST ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES AT THE TIME OF SURVEY).


THIS LEAGUE TABLE WILL SPUR UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE IN THE “AVERAGE” OR “LOW” CLUSTER TO WORK HARD TO MOVE UP TO THE “HIGH” CLUSTER”. IN THE LATER SCHEME, UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE RANKED 2ND, 3RD OR 147TH, WILL WORK ASSIDUOUSLY TO MOVE HIGHER TO BE RANKED 1ST. THE OVERALL IDEA IS TO RAMP UP THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE UNIVERSITY TO IMPROVE ON ITS ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PROFILE. THIS IS MUCH LIKE THE RANKING BY TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL OR OTHER BODIES WHOSE LEAGUE TABLES E.G. THE GLOBAL CORRUPTION INDEX GINGER LEADERS OF COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE ON THEIR STANDING. WITHOUT SUCH TABLES AS THE GLOBAL CORRUPTION INDEX, MANY COUNTRIES WHICH ARE SHAMED WILL KEEP SLIDING INTO THE MIRE AND MUDDY TERRAIN OF CORRUPTION.


OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF GLOBAL TEAMS THAT RANK UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE AND I AM AWARE THAT THE SUBJECT OF RATING OR RANKING UNIVERSITIES HAS TWO GROUPS OF DISCIPLES- THE LOVERS AND THE HATERS. WHEN THE UNIVERSITY IS WELL RANKED, THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY ARE QUICK TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS. WHEN POORLY-RANKED, SUCH OFFICIALS ARE QUICK TO LABEL RANKING AS NONSENSE. WE MUST ALL COME TO THE REALISATION THAT WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, RANKING IS HERE TO STAY. IF THE ACADEMY IS UNABLE TO UNDERTAKE THE RANKING ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AT THIS TIME FOR POLITICAL OR OTHER REASONS, A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THE AUTHORITIES WILL BE EMBOLDENED TO DO WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE RIGHT THING - WALK ALONG THE RANKING TRACK. I OFFER TO SUPPORT THE ACADEMY WITH MY EXPERTISE IN THIS VENTURE.

• LET US NOW ATTEMPT A DESCRIPTION OF WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARD TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS

• WHAT IS THE STATUS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM? WHILE NO NATIONAL EMPIRICAL DATA SUMMARISING THE STATUS EXIST, THERE ARE POCKETS OF CASE STUDIES FROM WHICH WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE. THERE ARE ALSO ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE INCLUDING MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HAPPENINGS IN THE SYSTEM. THE ANALYSIS DOCUMENTS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SLANTS TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. WE BEGIN WITH STUDENTS.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS• STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: THE POSITIVE ENTRIES IN THE

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY REPORT CARD OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED FOR FULL-TIME STUDIES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES INCLUDE THE INCREASINGLY HIGH PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AND THOSE WHO ARE PROMPT IN ATTENDING CLASSES. FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN SANDWICH, PART-TIME AND OTHER INCOME-GENERATING PROGRAMMES, THE REVERSE IS TRUE AS THESE ARE THE MAJOR SOURCES OF BLIGHT TO THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM. THOSE UNIVERSITIES WHICH RUN DEGREE PROGRAMMES OFFSHORE THEIR BASE LOCATIONS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE THE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO HIGH RANKING OF THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS

STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (CONT):

• ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, THE LEVEL OF PLAGIARISM AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ESPECIALLY FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECT REPORTS CAN BE AS HIGH AS 70%. MOST RELY ON COPYING VERBATIM FROM WIKIPEDIA AND OTHER ONLINE SOURCES WITHOUT MAKING EFFORTS AT ORIGINAL THINKING. AT THE POSTGRADUATE LEVEL, IT IS A SHADE BETTER. IT IS SAD THOUGH THAT EVEN AT THE DOCTORAL LEVEL, THE LEVEL OF PLAGIARISM IS INTOLERABLY HIGH AS REVEALED BY A RECENT STUDY BY AVCNU WHERE ABOUT A QUARTER OF PHD DOCTORAL THESES TESTED WITH THE NEWLY-ACQUIRED PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE FAILED THE PLAGIARISM CHECK. IT IS LIKE TESTING POSITIVE FOR HIV!

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS• WE ALSO HAVE CASES OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

AND CERTIFICATE FORGERY RAMPANT AMONG STUDENTS. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE WOULD APPEAR TO BE A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE CASES OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE BROUGHT ABOUT AT LEAST IN PART BY THE SANCTIONS UNIVERSITIES ARE METING OUT TO CULPRITS.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS• STAFF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: A FAIR NUMBER OF THE OVER 36,000

ACADEMIC STAFF IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ARE WELL RATED WITH REGARD TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. THEY ARE INTELLECTUALLY HONEST AND ARE ORIGINAL IN THEIR THINKING AND WRITING AND HARDLY CAUGHT IN THE PLAGIARISM NET. THEY REPORT WHATEVER RESULTS THEIR RESEARCH TURN UP WITHOUT DOCTORING TO SUIT PRE-CONCEIVED THEORIES. SADLY, A GROWING NUMBER IS IMPLICATED IN PLAGIARISM DEMONSTRATED IN COPYING MATERIALS FROM OTHERS VERBATIM TO FORM THEIR SELF-PUBLISHED TEXTBOOKS AND COOKING DATA FOR RESEARCH WITHOUT CONDUCTING THE STUDIES. LATENESS TO CLASS IS ALSO RAMPANT AS WELL AS ABSENTEEISM FROM LECTURES. MY STUDY OF 84 VISITATION PANEL REPORTS SHOWED THAT AN INSIGNIFICANT BUT UNACCEPTABLE FRACTION (LESS THAN 0.001%) OF STAFF IS INVOLVED IN ALTERATION OF EXAMINATION RESULTS TO FAVOUR CANDIDATES IN RETURN FOR GRATIFICATIONS. SOME PROFESSORS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE DISHONEST IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR PROFESSORIAL POSITIONS.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSISVICE-CHANCELLOR: SOME VICE-CHANCELLORS HAVE BEEN ALLEGED TO UNDULY FAVOUR SOME CANDIDATES IN THE ASSESSMENT OF PROFESSORS, SPEEDILY PROCESSING PUBLICATIONS OF THEIR FAVOURED CANDIDATES BY LOBBYING AND SENDING THE PUBLICATIONS TO “SOFT-HANDED” ASSESSORS AND DELAYING THE TRANSMISSION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THOSE THEY ARE HESITANT TO PROMOTE OR APPOINT AND WHEN CORNERED, SEND THE PUBLICATIONS TO DECEASED OR “HARD-HANDED” ASSESSORS. THERE ARE ALSO CASES OF VICE-CHANCELLORS INACCURATELY REPORTING FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC DATA ON THE UNIVERSITY.

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSISGENERAL: THE ICPC/NUC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STUDY AND REVIEW (2014), REPORTED THAT MANY TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ARE GUILTY OF ADMITTING STUDENTS MORE THAN THEIR CARRYING CAPACITY; NON-ADHERENCE TO THE REGULATIONS GUIDING ADMISSION; POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE ADMISSION PROCESS AMONG OTHER TRANSGRESSIONS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. OTHER REVELATIONS INCLUDE:SALE OF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND OTHER EXAMINATION-

RELATED MALPRACTICES; GRATIFICATION AND INDUCEMENT TO MANIPULATE AWARD OF

MARKS/GRADES; WRITING OF EXAMINATION BY PROXY; DIRECT CHEATING IN EXAMS;

BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSISDELAY IN THE RELEASE OF RESULTS; DELAY OF STUDENTS GRADUATION DUE TO POOR RECORD

KEEPING AND DELIBERATIVE VICTIMIZATION BY OFFICIALS; MANIPULATION OF INTERNAL EXAMINATION PROCESSES; DELAY IN THE TAKE-OFF OF LECTURES AND NON-COMPLETION OF

SYLLABUS BY LECTURERS; NON-ADHERENCE TO STUDENTS/LECTURER RATIO; FREQUENT STRIKE ACTION BY STAFF AND STUDENTS

INTERRUPTING THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR; AND SALE OF LECTURE NOTES, HANDOUTS AND TEXTBOOKS.

I AM SURE THE PROVOST OF THE ACADEMY WILL PROVIDE MORE EXPANSIVE INSIGHTS INTO THIS REPORT.

FORCES SHAPING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

• THERE ARE SEVERAL FORCES WHICH SWAY THE DIRECTION OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. I WILL SPEAK ON THREE OF THESE. FIRST IS SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCE OF THE LARGER NIGERIAN SOCIETY ON THE UNIVERSITIES. THE CORRUPTION LEVEL WHICH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACTS ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS HIGH IN NIGERIA, MORE SO IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. WE CANNOT HAVE A SAINTLY UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN AN OCEAN OF CORRUPT LARGER COMMUNITY REEKING WITH PERSONS WITH DISHONEST ATTRIBUTES, WHERE PARENTS ARE KEY AGENTS IN “SORTING” BY INDUCING LECTURERS FOR MARKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND WARDS AND ADMISSION OFFICERS BRIBED TO SECURE ADMISSION PLACEMENTS.

FORCES SHAPING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

• TECHNOLOGY IS THE SECOND FACTOR. THE INTERNET IS RICH WITH RESOURCES WHICH AID PLAGIARISM. EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IS AIDED BY TECHNOLOGY. CERTIFICATE FORGERY IS EQUALLY FACILITATED BY TECHNOLOGY. THE THIRD IS INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS.

BENEFITS OF ELEVATING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

WHILE SERVING AS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION, I ENCOUNTERED PERSONS OUTSIDE NIGERIA WHO HAD DIM VIEW OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. THE LARGE PROPORTION OF FORGED CERTIFICATES AND TRANSCRIPTS PARADED BY SUPPOSED GRADUATES FROM OUR UNIVERSITIES;

SPURIOUS DATA REPORTED BY SOME RESEARCHERS IN THE SYSTEM IN PAPERS SUBMITTED TO INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS;

INSTABILITY OF ACADEMIC CALENDAR;

HIGH INCIDENCE OF REPORTED CASES OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE; AND,

THE NUMBER OF DEGREE MILLS (UNAPPROVED UNIVERSITIES/PROGRAMMES),

FORM BASIS FOR THIS ACCUSATION. IF WE PLUCK OUT THESE BLIGHTS, OUR GLOBAL RATING IN ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WILL BE ELEVATED. THEREFORE, A MAJOR BENEFIT OF ENSURING WE REMAIN IN GOOD STANDING IN ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC REPUTATION OF THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

BENEFITS OF ELEVATING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

• THIS BENEFIT IS ALSO SHARED AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL. IF YOUR UNIVERSITY AND ITS COMPONENT FACULTIES AND ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS MAINTAIN HIGH ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, THE ESTEEM OF YOUR UNIVERSITY WILL SOAR WITH ATTENDANT NATIONAL AND GLOBAL RESPECTABILITY. HIGH ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS BENEFICIAL TO GRADUATES OF YOUR UNIVERSITY SINCE IT WILL HIKE THE RESPECTABILITY OF YOUR CERTIFICATES AND ESTEEM OF YOUR RESEARCHERS.

TEN STEPS TO IMPROVING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN YOUR UNIVERSITY

• WHAT SHOULD BE OUR TAKE-HOME MESSAGE AT THE END OF THIS WORKSHOP?

• ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE WORKSHOP IS THAT YOU WILL INITIATE ACTIONS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN YOUR UNIVERSITY ON RETURN TO BASE. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS PART OF THE ACTIONS YOU WILL TAKE.


1. DEVELOP A UNIVERSITY POLICY/CODE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: THROUGH A BOTTOM-UP PROCESS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THROUGH FACULTIES TO SENATE (AND COUNCIL FOR NOTING), DEVELOP A CONTEXTUALLY-RELEVANT POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. THE POLICY OR CODE SHOULD INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY’S DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AS WELL AS CLEAR DESCRIPTIONS OF ISSUES WHICH FALL UNDER THE LABEL E.G. EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE, PLAGIARISM, RESEARCH MALPRACTICE, MISCONDUCT IN ONLINE COURSES AND ALL MISCONDUCT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT IS POPULARLY KNOWN AS “SORTING”.


2. WIDE DISSEMINATION OF THE POLICY: PROVIDE EVERY STAFF AND STUDENT WITH A COPY OF THE UNIVERSITY POLICY AND DISPLAY ITS KEY PROVISIONS ON NOTICE BOARDS IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES ON CAMPUS.

3. CONDUCT UNIVERSITY-WIDE WORKSHOPS ON THE POLICY: CONDUCT PERIODIC WORKSHOPS TO FAMILIARISE STAFF AND STUDENTS WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE POLICY, SPECIALLY TARGETING NEW STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING ORIENTATION.


4. SECURE SIGNATURES OF STAFF AND STUDENTS AS ENDORSEMENT AND AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE POLICY: LIKE THE END-USER LICENCE AGREEMENT, ENSURE THAT EVERY STAFF AND STUDENT ACCEPTS THE PROVISIONS OF THE POLICY AND THE ATTENDANT SANCTIONS FOR TRANSGRESSION BY SIGNING A COPY WHICH SHOULD BE DEPOSITED IN THE PERSONAL FILE OF THE STAFF AND STUDENT. THIS IS NECESSARY TO COUNTER ARGUMENT IN A COURT OF LAW THAT IF AN ERRING STUDENT OR STAFF CLAIMS BEING UNAWARE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE POLICY.


5. SET UP A UNIT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: A UNIT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY SHOULD BE SET UP WITHIN THE DIRECTORATE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE TO MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY AND ORGANISE CAPACITY-BUILDING, SENSITISATION AND AWARENESS WORKSHOPS. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND OTHER UNIVERSITY LEADERS WHO ARE ATTENDING THIS WORKSHOP SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE OF BEING OF HIGH ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. IT IS NOT USEFUL TO ADOPT THE “DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO” APPROACH BY BEING ACADEMICALLY CROOKED AND EXPECT OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS TO FALL IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.


6. REWARD AND CELEBRATE EXEMPLARY STAFF AND STUDENTS: THROUGH ANNUAL AWARDS, CELEBRATE AND REWARD STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO ARE OUTSTANDING IN THEIR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PROFILES DURING THE COURSE OF A SESSION.


7. PROCURE, PERIODICALLY UPDATE AND WIDELY USE PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE: ALL ASSIGNMENTS, UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT REPORTS, HIGHER DEGREE DISSERTATIONS AND THESES SHOULD BE ROUTINELY CHECKED FOR PLAGIARISM. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD PURCHASE A ROBUST PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE THAT IS FREQUENTLY UPDATED AND ITS LICENCE RENEWED. THE ASSOCIATION OF VICE-CHANCELLORS OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (AVCNU) HAS A BULK PURCHASE AGREEMENT OF SUCH SOFTWARE THAT ALL UNIVERSITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBSCRIBE AT CHEAPER COST. THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE TO ROUTINELY CHECK PLAGIARISM WILL LOWER THE APPETITE OF STAFF AND STUDENTS TO INFRINGE COPYRIGHT AND PLAGIARISE OTHER PERSON’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.


8. CONFIRMATION OF NON-PLAGIARISM: SENATE SHOULD ADOPT A SCHEME WHERE ALL UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT REPORTS, HIGHER DEGREE DISSERTATIONS AND THESES HAVE ONE OF THE PRELIMINARY PAGES AS A SIGNED ATTESTATION BY THE STUDENT THAT THE WORK IS ORIGINAL AND NOT COPIED IN ANY FORM FROM THE WORK OF OTHERS.

9. INCLUDE CONCEPTS ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE GENERAL STUDIES PROGRAMME: SENATE SHOULD APPROVE THE INCLUSION OF CONCEPTS IN THE UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE GENERAL STUDIES COURSE THAT ALL STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE BEFORE GRADUATION.

10.SANCTION ERRING STUDENTS AND STAFF: APPLY SANCTIONS IN LINE WITH THE POLICY GUIDELINES REGARDLESS OF THE STATUS OF THE OFFENDER. THIS WAY, OTHERS ARE CAUTIONED.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

• IN THIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS, I OFFERED A DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PROVIDED A BRIEF SITUATION ANALYSIS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. I PROPOSED TEN ACTIONS WHICH UNIVERSITIES SHOULD TAKE AS PART OF EFFORTS TO ELEVATE THEIR STANDING ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. IN THE WORDS OF PROFESSOR OLU AINA, “THE MOST POTENT PATHWAY TO REDUCING OR ELIMINATING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA IS THROUGH EDUCATION.” THE BATTLE SHOULD FIRST BE WON IN OUR UNIVERSITIES WHICH PRODUCE HIGH-LEVEL HUMAN RESOURCES INCLUDING FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY. HEREIN LIES THE CRITICAL ROLE YOU ALL ATTENDING THIS WORKSHOP WILL HAVE TO PLAY. IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL RETURN TO YOUR UNIVERSITY TO UNDERTAKE THE ARDUOUS, ONEROUS BUT PRAISEWORTHY TASK OF ELEVATING THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY OF YOUR INSTITUTIONS IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES FOR THE WORKSHOP.

PETER A. OKEBUKOLA, OFR

6 JULY, 2015

elevating academic integrity in tertiary institutions in nigeria keynote address presented at the...

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