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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-----Original Message-----
From: Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra
[mailto:[FOI #468787 email]]
Sent: 05 March 2018 06:58
To: Freedom of Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Ghostwriter in the university

 

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

 

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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

-----Original Message-----
From: Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra [mailto:[FOI #468787 email]]
Sent: 05 March 2018 06:58
To: Freedom of Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Ghostwriter in the university

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

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[FOI #468787 email]

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It is your responsibility to ensure that this message and its attachment(s) are scanned for viruses or other defects. Queen Margaret University does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this message or its attachment(s), or for errors or omissions arising after it was sent. Email is not a secure medium. Email traffic entering Queen Margaret University's system is subject to routine monitoring and filtering by Queen Margaret University.

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is a registered charity: Scottish Charity Number SC002750.

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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

-----Original Message-----
From: Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra [mailto:[FOI #468787 email]]
Sent: 04 May 2018 17:32
To: Freedom of Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Ghostwriter in the university

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

-----Original Message-----

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #468787 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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It is your responsibility to ensure that this message and its attachment(s) are scanned for viruses or other defects. Queen Margaret University does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this message or its attachment(s), or for errors or omissions arising after it was sent. Email is not a secure medium. Email traffic entering Queen Margaret University's system is subject to routine monitoring and filtering by Queen Margaret University.

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is a registered charity: Scottish Charity Number SC002750.

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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
outcome or with the University’s failure to review its actions and
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

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Wan Ulfa Nur Zuhra
[mailto:[FOI #468787 email]]
Sent: 07 May 2018 10:56
To: Freedom of Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Ghostwriter in the
university

 

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

 

-----Original Message-----

 

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

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #468787 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[5]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

 

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

[6]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This message and its attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s) only
and should not be read, copied, disclosed, forwarded or relied upon by any
person other than the intended addressee(s) without the permission of the
sender. If you are not the intended addressee, you must not take any
action based on this message and its attachment(s) nor must you copy or
show them to anyone. If you have received this email in error, please
inform the sender immediately and delete all copies of it.

It is your responsibility to ensure that this message and its
attachment(s) are scanned for viruses or other defects. Queen Margaret
University does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may
result from this message or its attachment(s), or for errors or omissions
arising after it was sent. Email is not a secure medium. Email traffic
entering Queen Margaret University's system is subject to routine
monitoring and filtering by Queen Margaret University.

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is a registered charity: Scottish
Charity Number SC002750.

References

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