• New TEQSA training course to help academic and professional staff detect and deter contract cheating

    TEQSA is supporting Australia’s higher education sector in the ongoing fight against academic cheating services, with new training for academics and professional staff.

    The TEQSA Masterclass: Contract cheating detection and deterrence is designed to help academics and professional staff improve their ability to prevent, identify and investigate suspected cases of contract cheating (where students outsource their cheating to a third party).

    Comprising 8 online modules, the Masterclass was developed by the higher education regulator in partnership with leading Australian academic integrity experts.

    The self-directed course is free to all staff at higher education institutions registered with TEQSA.

    In addition to the online component, participants will also be invited to in-person networking workshops to further build skills and share good practice.

    The workshops will be held later this year in Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth.

    Academics and professional staff can enrol in the Masterclass via the TEQSA website at teqsa.gov.au/detectionmasterclass.

    TEQSA thanks the project team, co-led by Professor Cath Ellis (UNSW) and Mr Kane Murdoch (Macquarie University), for their work in developing this Masterclass.

    Quotes attributable to TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake AO

    “TEQSA is working with Australian higher education providers to combat the integrity risk posed by commercial academic cheating services.

    “Today we launched our new TEQSA Masterclass: Contract cheating detection and deterrence to upskill academics and professional staff and support them to address this issue within their institution.

    “This course was developed in partnership with leading Australian academic integrity experts and will help strengthen the sector’s response to the risks posed by academic cheating services.”

    Media enquiries

    TEQSA Communications
    comms@teqsa.gov.au 
    0437 143 012  

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  • How to apply for TEQSA to assess a third-party agreement

    CRICOS registered providers are required to apply to TEQSA to assess new arrangements with other providers (third-party partnerships), or changes to existing arrangements, in accordance with Standard 11.1.4 of the National Code 2018. Please also submit an application to add a new location where delivery will take place at a location operated by the third party.

    TEQSA must be advised of all providers to be involved in providing a registered course, the role played by each provider in the delivery of the course, and the registered provider that will offer and confer the award (the primary provider).

    Higher education providers with an arrangement with another party (in Australia or overseas) to deliver some or all of a higher education course must have effective mechanisms to manage and maintain quality assurance of all aspects of that arrangement. Where an arrangement is for the delivery of a course that is also delivered directly by the primary provider, the outcomes of the course are expected to be substantially the same and materially equivalent, irrespective of where the course is undertaken.

    The primary provider:

    • is accountable for the quality of education and any services delivered by another party on behalf of the primary provider
    • will monitor and maintain quality assurance of any TPA it establishes
    • will confirm that the TPA meets and continues to meet the Standards of the National Code
    • is able to demonstrate that the requirements of the National Code are met. 

    In reviewing an application, TEQSA will consider:

    • the background of all parties involved in the arrangement
    • the provider’s rationale for entering into the TPA and evidence of due diligence undertaken by the provider
    • the nature and purpose of the arrangement, including how it will ensure ongoing compliance with the Standards of the National Code, with clear information about the responsibilities of each party
    • how the provider’s monitoring and quality assurance processes will provide oversight of the third party
    • how the provider plans to mitigate risks to quality.

    Applications for TEQSA to assess arrangements with other providers should be submitted as soon as practicable and at least 30 days prior to the intended commencement date for delivery of the course/s. This is to ensure sufficient time for TEQSA to assess the application prior to commencement. If the application is incomplete or includes insufficient evidence, TEQSA may request additional information, which may delay the assessment.

    To assess a new arrangement with another provider, or changes to an existing arrangement with another provider, TEQSA requires the following evidence regarding the proposed responsibilities, including quality assurance arrangements, of every provider involved in delivering a course to overseas students.

    Arrangement details

    Describe the proposed responsibilities, including quality assurance arrangement, for the other provider involved in delivering a course to overseas students.

    Responsibilities of each provider

    Summarise each provider’s responsibilities for managing the course, including responsibilities for curriculum design, teaching delivery and academic standards, library and learning resources, assessment, and the provider that awards the qualification.

    Registered provider requirement (ESOS Act 11e)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself that the education provided is of a satisfactory standard. This should consider the requirements for course design, monitoring, review, and improvement under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, the Education Services for Overseas Students (Foundation Program Standards) Instrument 2021, and the ELICOS Standards 2018 where applicable.

    Marketing and recruitment (National Code, Standards 1-2)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standards regarding:

    • marketing information and practices
    • provision of information to students prior to enrolment.

    Admissions and enrolment (National Code, Standards 3-4)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standards regarding:

    • formalising enrolment through written agreements
    • engagement and monitoring of education agents.

    Care for and services to younger overseas students (National Code, Standard 5)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standard regarding:

    • ensuring compliance with state or territory requirements relating to child welfare and protection
    • provision of age and culturally appropriate information on who to contact in emergency situations, seeking assistance, and reporting sexual, physical, or other abuse
    • managing accommodation, support, and welfare arrangements for younger overseas students
    • selecting, screening, and monitoring any third parties engaged to organise and assess welfare and accommodation arrangements
    • policy and procedure for managing critical incidents, and emergency situations where welfare arrangements may be disrupted for under 18 students
    • managing working with children checks and related record keeping
    • managing cancellations, suspensions, and transfers for younger overseas students.

    Where the provider/s intend not to deliver to younger students, state this intention clearly in the application.

    Student support services (National Code, Standard 6)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standard regarding:

    • provision of orientation materials regarding support services available to overseas students, and referrals to service providers
    • provision of support services and staff
    • provision of a safe learning environment.

    Governance and Quality Assurance (National Code, Standards 7-10)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standards regarding:

    • managing overseas student transfers and transfer requests
    • managing policy, record keeping, and reporting obligations related to overseas students’ visa requirements
    • ensuring an appropriate balance of delivery modes
    • ensuring compliance with the Standards in the context of any work-based learning
    • managing the deferral, suspension, or cancellation of overseas students’ enrolment
    • managing complaints and appeals.

    Student Facilities and Resources (National Code, Standard 11)

    Summarise how responsibilities are to be divided, and where responsibility is delegated to the third-party provider, how the primary provider will monitor quality and assure itself of compliance with the Standard regarding:

    • ensuring course duration is appropriate and meets relevant requirements
    • ensuring any work-based training is necessary, and is appropriately supervised and assessed
    • ensuring adequate staff, education resources, facilities, equipment, learning and library resources, and premises
    • ensuring the maximum number of overseas students proposed for a location is appropriate to the staff, resources, and facilities available
    • notifying TEQSA of any arrangements regarding, or changes to:
      • course duration and holiday breaks
      • modes of study
      • work-based training
      • number of overseas students enrolled
      • arrangements with other education providers
    • managing external audits where a provider has self-accrediting authority.

    Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

    How do I notify TEQSA that a third-party agreement (TPA) has been terminated?

    If you are terminating a third-party agreement (TPA) with another provider, please notify TEQSA via a Material Change notification. Further information on this process is available on our Material changes page. Where the TPA termination requires removing a CRICOS approved location operated by the third-party provider from the primary provider’s CRICOS registration, please submit an Other CRICOS changes application to TEQSA concurrently with the Material Change notification. Please notify TEQSA at least 30 days prior to the change taking effect.

    Please note: where the termination of a third-party agreement will result in provider default as defined in section 46A of the ESOS Act, the provider must discharge its obligations to students in accordance with section 46D of the ESOS Act within 14 days after the default day.

    There are no fees associated with notifying TEQSA of these changes.

    Further information

    For more information or assistance applying for TEQSA to assess a third-party agreement, please contact the CRICOS team at cricos@teqsa.gov.au.

    For more information regarding fees providers must pay in relation to applications made to TEQSA, refer to our Application-based fees page.

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  • What is academic integrity? (Malay) – Apakah integriti akademik?

    Integriti akademik

    Integriti akademik ialah:

    Harapan bahawa para guru, pelajar, penyelidik dan semua warga komuniti akademik bertindak dengan: kejujuran, kebolehpercayaan, keadilan, hormat-menghormati dan bertanggungjawab.”

    Melanggar integriti akademik juga dikenali sebagai ‘salahlaku akademik’ atau ‘ketidakjujuran akademik’.

    Semua pelajar pendidikan tinggi di Australia dikehendaki menegakkan integriti akademik sepanjang pengajian mereka. Langkah penting untuk menegakkan integriti akademik anda adalah dengan menghubungi guru atau sekolah anda sekiranya anda menghadapi  masalah pembelajaran dan bekerjasama dengan mereka untuk mencapai penyelesaian.

    Menuntut dan belajar memberi pengetahuan yang diharapkan dari seorang lulusan kursus anda tetapi apa-apa bentuk penipuan bermakna anda mungkin telah kehilangan pengetahuan dan amalan profesional yang penting dan yang anda perlukan untuk berjaya dalam kerjaya anda nanti.

    Menjaga nama baik

    Para pelajar adalah sebahagian dari sebuah komuniti pembelajaran apabila mereka memulakan pengajian mereka. Tindakan yang melemahkan integriti akademik kursus atau institusi anda boleh memberi kesan kepada reputasi anda pada masa yang akan datang. Misalnya, jika anda telah ditangkap menipu semasa belajar, badan-badan profesional mungkin tidak akan menganugerahkan akreditasi kepada anda.

    Mengelakkan penjenayah

    Mengekalkan integriti akademik juga melindungi anda daripada penjenayah.

    Khidmat penipuan komersil adalah haram di Australia

    Pelajar yang menggunakan perkhidmatan penipuan haram, untuk membeli esei, nota pembelaran atau mengupah seseorang untuk menyamar sebagai mereka dalam peperiksaan, juga berisiko diperas ugut. Pada kemudian hari, pengendali perkhidmatan penipuan haram boleh mengancam untuk memberitahu universiti atau bakal majikan tentang penipuan itu kecuali jika pelajar tersebut membayar mereka sejumlah wang yang besar - kadangkala bertahun-tahun selepas penipuan berlaku.

    Perilaku yang menyokong integriti akademik

    Tick mark in jigsaw piece

    Anda boleh menyokong integriti akademik dengan1:

    • memperakui dari mana asalnya maklumat yang anda gunakan, memetik atau merujuk sumber tersebut dengan jelas 
    • menduduki peperiksaan anda sendiri dan menghantar hasil kerja anda sendiri
    • melaporkan dapatan kajian dengan tepat dan mematuhi polisi-polisi kajian
    • menggunakan maklumat dengan cara yang sepatutnya, mengikut undang-undang hakcipta dan privasi
    • bertindak secara beretika atau membuat tindakan yang betul walaupun anda menghadapi kesukaran

    Sekiranya anda menghadapi masalah yang boleh menjejaskan prestasi akademik anda, cara terbaik ialah bercakap dengan pensyarah atau tutor atau penyelaras kursus anda.

    Perilaku yang melemahkan integriti akademik

    Cross mark in jigsaw piece

    Pelbagai tingkah laku pelajar boleh menjejaskan integriti akademik. Kadangkala, pelajar tersalah tanggapan bahawa tingkah laku ini suatu perkara biasa atau tidak mendatangkan akibat buruk. Ini adalah salah. Penalti yang besar boleh dikenakan kerana melanggar integriti akademik (lihat Penalti melanggar integriti akademik di bawah untuk maklumat lanjut).

    Perilaku yang melemahkan integriti akademik termasuklah2:

    Plagarisme

    Mengemukakan kerja yang bukan milik anda sendiri tanpa mengakui, memetik atau merujuk sumber asal kerja, dikenali sebagai plagiarisme. Tidak kira sama ada anda melakukan ini secara tidak sengaja atau sengaja, sama ada anda menukar kata-kata untuk menjadikannya seolah-olah kata-kata anda sendiri atau sekadar salin dan tampal (copy and paste). Apabila anda menggunakan pemikiran dan idea orang lain, anda mesti merujuk sumber bahan tersebut.

    Hasil kerja yang dikitar semula atau dikemukakan semula

    Pengitaran semula melibatkan penyerahan (atau penyerahan semula) hasilkerja yang telahpun dinilai sebelumnya, tanpa kebenaran guru anda. Misalnya, menyerahkan laporan yang telah digred semasa anda di tahun pertama pengajian sebagai sebahagian daripada hasil kerja anda dalam kelas tahun tiga. Bincanglah dahulu dengan guru anda sekiranya anda ingin membina di atas hasilkerja anda sebelum ini.

    Fabrikasi maklumat

    Fabrikasi maklumat termasuklah mereka maklumat bagi penilaian untuk tugasan-tugasan berfokus pada penyelidikan, seperti data eksperimen atau temubual. Ia juga boleh merangkumi mencipta sumber data, bukti atau idea dengan memetik penerbitan yang tidak betul atau tidak wujud.

    Pakatan sulit

    Pakatan sulit melibatkan kerjasama yang haram dengan satu atau lebih pelajar lain untuk menyiapkan kerja yang bakal dinilai. Ini berbeza daripada bekerjasama untuk menyiapkan tugasan kumpulan yang telah ditetapkan oleh guru anda. Contoh kerjasama yang haram termasuk bekerjasama dengan rakan atau sekumpulan rakan-rakan untuk menulis esei atau laporan yang sepatutnya merupakan karya individu. Ia juga mungkin merangkumi perkongsian soalan atau jawapan kuiz atau ujian dengan pelajar lain, begitu juga tugasan bertulis seperti laporan dan esei. Kerjasama yang haram boleh memberi kelebihan yang tidak adil kepada pelajar atau sekumpulan pelajar berbanding orang lain. Pelajar juga samasekali tidak boleh berkongsi kerja mereka dengan orang lain kerana terdapat risiko bahawa orang yang menerima hasil kerja anda itu boleh memuat naiknya kepada perkhidmatan penipuan haram komersial atau mengedarkannya kepada orang lain.

    Menipu dalam peperiksaan

    Penipuan dalam peperiksaan termasuk:

    • Menulis ‘nota gelap’ di tubuh badan anda atau pada bahan-bahan yang anda bawa masuk ke bilik peperiksaan
    • cuba meniru dari pelajar lain
    • berkomunikasi dengan pelajar lain atau orang di luar tempat peperiksaan semasa peperiksaan sedang berjalan
    • menggunakan peralatan elektronik untuk mendapat akses kepada maklumat berkaitan peperiksaan tersebut semasa peperiksaan sedang berlangsung
    • membawa barang-barang yang dilarang, misalnya kalkulator yang tidak diluluskan atau buku teks ke dalam dewan peperiksaan.

    Penyamaran dan penipuan kontrak

    Penipuan kontrak ialah sejenis penipuan komersil. Anda melibatkan orang lain untuk menyiapkan sebahagian atau seluruh kerja anda dan seterusnya menghantar hasil kerja tersebut seolah-olah anda sendiri yang menyiapkannya.  Ini termasuk meminta orang lain menduduki peperiksaan bagi pihak anda atau menyuruh mereka menulis esei, laporan atau tugasan lain, yang kadangkala juga dipanggil ‘penulisan halimunan’ (ghost-writing).

    Tindakan yang menyokong khidmat penipuan kontrak haram juga dianggap melanggar integriti akademik. Ini termasuk pelajar yang memuat naik bahan pengajaran seperti latihan peperiksaan, slaid kuliah dan soalan tugasan untuk 'nota kajian'.

    Hukuman perlanggaran integriti akademik

    Penalties icon

    Para pelajar boleh menghadapi pelbagai hukuman ekoran dari perlanggaran integriti akademik, yang biasanya dirujuk sebagai 'salahlaku akademik' atau 'ketidakjujuran akademik'. Tanggapan biasa ialah bahawa pelajar jarang tertangkap. Namun kajian menunjukkan bahawa guru dan institusi boleh mengesan pelanggaran integriti akademik, dan pelajar yang melakukan kesalahan sememangnya tertangkap3. Dan cara mengesan penipuan sentiasa dipertingkatkan.

    Hukuman melanggar integriti akademik mungkin termasuk:

    • perlu mengulang tugasan yang dinilai atau unit pengajian tersebut
    • gagal dalam tugasan yang dinilai, unit pengajian atau kursus
    • dibuang dari institusi anda, yang mungkin memberi kesan kepada visa pengajian anda
    • menghadapi tuduhan jenayah

    Selain dari risiko hukuman akademik atau jenayah, sekiranya anda didapati telah melanggar integriti akademik, ia boleh memberi kesan kepada hubungan anda dengan pelajar lain, keluarga dan rakan-rakan; kerjaya anda pada masa hadapan juga akan terkesan dan mengakibatkan anda mengalami kerugian kewangan atau kehilangan visa pengajian anda.

    Mendapatkan bantuan

    Help icon

    Jika ada apa-apa pertanyaan berkenaan integriti akademik atau memerlukan nasihat serta sokongan kemahiran pembelajaran, anda perlu berbincang dengan institusi anda. Guru atau penyelaras kursus adalah tempat yang paling sesuai untuk bermula.

    Sekiranya anda telah dituduh melanggar integriti akademik, anda perlu mengambil tuduhan itu dengan serius. Institusi anda semestinya mempunyai polisi dan prosedur yang jelas berkenaan disiplin pelajar, aduan dan rayuan. Anda perlu membaca polisi-polisi ini dan anda juga mungkin boleh mendapatkan advokasi atau khidmat sokongan dari kesatuan pelajar sekiranya ada di institusi anda.

    Bahagian berikutnya (Mengenalpasti, mengelak dan melaporkan khidmat penipuan haram) menggariskan mengapa anda harus mengelak dari menerima bantuan di laman web atau perkhidmatan yang diiklankan di media sosial kerana mereka mungkin merupakan perkhidmatan penipuan haram.

    Nota

    1. Definisi-definisi disesuaikan dari bahan yang dibangunkan oleh La Trobe University.
    2. Definisi-definisi disuaikan dari bahan yang dibangunkan oleh The University of Sydney.
    3. Dawson, P. & Sutherland-Smith, W. (2017). Can markers detect contract cheating? Results from a pilot study, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education.

    Kembali ke Laman Memahami Integriti Akademik

     

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  • Invoices for the RHEP charge to be issued soon

    From Monday 19 February, TEQSA will issue each registered higher education provider with their 2024 Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge notice and invoice.

    The RHEP charge will comprise:

    • the base component of the charge at 50% of the full rate, and
    • the compliance component of the charge for compliance activity undertaken in 2023 that is specific to your higher education provider.

    You'll have 30 days from the notice date to pay your RHEP charge.

    Please visit our fees and charges page to read the updated Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS), which outlines our fees and charges.

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  • Have your say on our draft guidance notes

    In 2023, TEQSA consulted stakeholders on the following guidance notes:

    We are now seeking further stakeholder feedback that identifies suggestions to update, clarify and further enhance the content to assist providers in delivering effective self-assurance.

    The consultation period closes at 5pm (AEDT) on Friday 15 March 2024.

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  • Protecting sector integrity: Assessment reform and AI

    TEQSA’s Chief Commissioner, Professor Peter Coaldrake, has written to all registered higher education providers outlining the significant challenges to sector integrity which artificial intelligence presents to assessment.

    Professor Coaldrake noted the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) requires higher education institutions to reflect meaningfully on how they are ensuring students have attained the skills and knowledge they need to graduate with their awards. At the same time, students must be able to engage with genAI and build the skills they will need to ethically and effectively use these tools in the workforce.

    TEQSA is keen to ensure institutions are engaging with the impact of genAI on the integrity of their awards and developing credible action plans which articulate how they are addressing the risk that genAI poses. In the letter, Professor Coaldrake advised that TEQSA will be issuing a request for information (RFI) to all providers for submission of these plans in June 2024.

    All registered higher education providers are encouraged to review the letter. We also encourage your institution to engage with the consultation of the Assessment Reform Guiding Principles, which seek to provide guidance to inform decision-making on assessment practice reform. This consultation is open until 5pm on Friday 20 October 2023.

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  • Supporting the International Day of Action for Academic Integrity

    Wednesday 18 October is International Day of Action for Academic Integrity and TEQSA has released Get to know genAI conversation starters. This series of questions is designed to prompt conversations and get higher education staff and students thinking about the impact of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) on academic integrity. 

    The questions ask staff and students to consider their use of genAI, their awareness of genAI tools and the risks and benefits of using genAI in their teaching and learning.

    The conversation starters are available on the Artificial Intelligence good practice hub of TEQSA’s website in a printable A4 format. We encourage you to share the conversation starters on social media and place them in common spaces at your institution to drive conversations about genAI. The good practice hub provides links to resources developed by TEQSA, as well as good practice advice from other sources, to support higher education providers, staff and students in meeting the challenges of genAI.

    The International Day of Action for Academic Integrity is organised by the International Centre for Academic Integrity and this year’s theme is Championing academic integrity in the age of AI.

    TEQSA is collaborating across the high education sector to support higher education providers in assuring academic integrity in the age of genAI.

    This year, TEQSA partnered with Deakin University to produce a series of webinars addressing genAI and its implications for learning, teaching and assessment.

    In September, the final webinar in the series launched a discussion paper Assessment reform for the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This paper provides guiding principles and propositions for assessment reform in the age of genAI and is available for consultation until Friday 20 October. The final version will launch at TEQSA’s conference on 23 November 2023.
     

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