Ghostwriter in the university

The request was successful.

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Dear Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh,

This request is under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

1. Please inform me of the number of disciplinary actions taken against students resulting in a fine and/or expulsion in the last five academic years, the reasons for such action being taken, and the results of any appeal.

2. In those academic years (2013 to 2017), How many of those are the case where a ghostwriter involve? (for ex: assignment or dissertation were written by somebody else)

3. How to find out that ghostwriter involvement since many ghostwriter organisations offer the plagiarism checking?

4. Is there any case where your staff involved in that unfair practice, being a ghostwriter for the student? Please give details about the case.

I would request this data in either Excel or CSV format or searchable PDF.

If you feel the information that I have requested cannot be compiled within a reasonable time frame, I would appreciate if you at least can answer my first question.

If you need any clarification then please contact me via email. Under your section 16 duty to provide advice and assistance, I would expect you contact me if you find this request unmanageable in any way.

Yours faithfully,

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Freedom of Information Act, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002 - INFORMATION REQUEST

 

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Freedom of Information Act, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Good afternoon,

Can you please clarify what you mean in question 3 please. Are you looking for information on how we detect cases of plagiarism in written assignments?

Kind regards, Gerry

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Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Dear Freedom of Information Act,

Thanks for your email.
Some clarification from me:
My request is limited to academic misconduct offenses and what I mean by ghostwriter is the same term as contract cheating.
For question number 3, my question is, how can your institution detect the contract cheating practice in general?

Many thanks

Yours sincerely,

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Dear Freedom of Information Act,

Hi, I have sent my clarification on 18 March and still get no response until now. May I know why?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Freedom of Information Act, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Morning Wan,

I've not received any response to my email below, I also checked on whatdotheyknow.com but couldn't see anything there either. Can you please re-send your response of the 18 March.

Kind regards, Gerry

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Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Dear Freedom of Information Act,

Thanks for your email.
Some clarification from me:
My request is limited to academic misconduct offences and what I mean by ghostwriter is the same term as contract cheating.
For question number 3, my question is, how can your institution detect the contract cheating practice in general?

Yours sincerely,

Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra

Freedom of Information Act, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Hi,

 

This is easy then:

 

1.                   Please inform me of the number of disciplinary
actions for academic misconduct offences taken against students resulting
in a fine and/or expulsion in the last five academic years, the reasons
for such action being taken, and the results of any appeal.

 

None

 

2.                   In those academic years (2013 to 2017), How many of
those are the case where a ghostwriter involve? (for ex: assignment or
dissertation were written by somebody else)

 

NA

 

3.                   How to find out that ghostwriter involvement since
many ghostwriter organisations offer the plagiarism checking?

 

The University cannot disclose every means available to it for detecting
plagiarism, this would allow those who cheat an advantage. But in general
the University uses Turnitin. This is an online service which accepts
submissions electronically and compares them with over 800 million web
pages and a range of electronic resources. It then returns an "Originality
Report" highlighting instances of matches with the external sources which
may highlight plagiarism.

 

4.                   Is there any case where your staff involved in that
unfair practice, being a ghostwriter for the student? Please give details
about the case.

 

Staff have never been involved in being a ghost writer for a student or
helping them cheat etc. The idea of this happening is very farfetched,
there’s just no reason for a member of staff to do this.

 

If you have any queries or concerns please contact:

 

FOI

Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University Drive

Musselburgh

East Lothian EH21 6UU

[1][email address]

 

If you have any complaint about the University’s handling of your request
for information, you may require the University to review its actions and
decisions in relation to this response by writing within 60 working days
of the date of your request to FOI, Queen Margaret University, Queen
Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 6UU or at
[2][email address].

 

You may, within a further six months, if you are dissatisfied with the
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decisions in relation to this response, apply to The Scottish Information
Commissioner. Details on how to appeal to the Scottish Information
Commissioner is available on their website:
[3]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

 

Gerry O’Hare

Governance Adviser

Governance and Quality Enhancement

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU

Tel: 0131 474 0000; Say "Gerry O’Hare" when prompted by our automated
system

email: [email address]; www.qmu.ac.uk

 

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