Academic Integrity - Report Example

Introduction Education is the most relevant issue in the social fabric of society across the world. It serves as the most effective platform to introduce changes within the social fabric of countries across the world. The purpose of academics is to inculcate values amongst the students and generate knowledge which is multiplied through interpretation in various formats by scholars. The existing database of knowledge is explored, modified, corrected or even expanded with more fresh inputs by other scholars. Preserving academic integrity has long been a mantra for higher education institutions. It promotes academic honesty amongst the students and helps them to become responsible adults and maintain a high level of personal and professional integrity in their life. Purpose of Academic integrity Academic integrity has become highly relevant in today’s context, when the advent of technology like internet, has made it easier for people to access wide ranging information and literatures. It basically refers to the scholars’ fair intention to acknowledge the works of other scholars while putting forth their own interpretation on the issues and ideologies. Academic integrity promotes original ideas and interpretations on issues and topics that are socially, economically and politically relevant. Academic integrity is critical to the advancement of knowledge and development of fresh ideas and perspectives on wide ranging issues. It also promotes sense of responsibility and integrity in the works of the scholars and helps to build mutual trust among the scholar community which is designed to foster creativity. Besides being ethically correct, academic honesty fosters a new breed of innovative thinkers who have the power to influence the critically sensitive paradigms of our time which is fraught with conflicting ideologies and unholy alliances of the vested interests. Contemporary academia environment Universities and business schools across the world today, have digressed from the path of pure academic interests and have become commercial in their approach, goals and objectives. While the universities and business schools have introduced wide range of specialized areas in the field of management and administration, the research is one area that has seen the least improvement so far as innovative and creative research areas and research methodologies are concerned. Goldberg has correctly interpreted the academic relevance of the research when he said that ‘academic thinking is powerful and usable over long time frames’ (1996). In the era of globalization, the emerging trends in business are crucial to understand and therefore, it becomes imperative to know whether higher education produces the professionals who are not only good administrators but also develop the traits of entrepreneur and intrapreneurs who are equipped to improve and improvise the business processes to optimize the intended output, within the parameters of organizational goals and objectives. Higher education must be able to exploit their entrepreneurial skills to further improve their aims and objectives not only through expanding knowledge but also through their ethically correct decision making. Hence, academic integrity and moral education within the academia needs to become intrinsic part of higher education curricula. In the contemporary times, the business school and universities are run as business houses with the main focus on the financial gains. The research too has lost its academic flavor and instead, it is now carried out to promote vested interests of the few elite business enterprises which are designed to be mutually beneficial so far as short term economic gains are concerned. The increasing privatization of the business schools, are a case in point. This is not only encouraging academic dishonesty amongst the faculty as well as students but the adverse impact is hugely damaging to the social fabric that is increasing becoming self centered and highly unethical. Need for academic honesty and reforms in academia The demographic, individual characteristics and situational factors are linked to academic cheating (Chapman, Davis, Troy & Wright, 2004). It is observed that students who adopt dishonest practice in their academics are liable to become unethical and dishonest in their professional life leading to serious acts of omission and commission (Nonis and Swift, 1998). Severity of punishment and the fear of being caught are effective deterrent (Lemming, 1980; Allen et al., 1998). Studies have also shown that 97% believe that good ethics is good business but surprising 71% agree that ethics may also hurt their career (Lawson, 2004). In the highly competitive business environment of global values, the ethical considerations in decision making also become the critical factor that provides the competitive advantage. As such, the dishonest disposition of students not only lowers the dignity of their academia but also lowers the value of their academic qualifications. The role of universities in promoting social and ethical responsibilities in the community comes under cloud and they often stand to lose credibility. The increasing trend of commercialization of the academic aspect of higher education, especially with relation to the professional education in the field of management, has necessitated an urgent need for reforms in the academic research. Privatization of professional education is laudable so far as improving the access to skilled and knowledge based exposure is concerned but in the wider interests of the academia, the institutions must forego the need to cater to select business houses/ communities and take up research programs which would serve the present and future generation of business communities. Violation of academic trust through plagiarism, cheating, falsifying information or aiding and abetting in any of the above mentioned activities are now serious offences and they are considered as totally unacceptable conduct in all areas of academics. The students and all other scholars are strictly advised to avoid indulging in activities which comprise of academic dishonesty and exhibit their fair intention by proper citations and comprehensive bibliography. Conclusion One can therefore conclude that academic integrity is also essential because in the present era of globalization, there is urgent need to create leadership and leaders within the organizations who would facilitate creation of global values and promote common goals. The inclusion of practicalities of the business processes and business situations, in the management and academic research, are proving to be the mantra of success for meeting the challenges of the changing times. The traditional format of research which originates as a result of curiosity and hitherto producing theoretical outcomes of fictitious business situations, is now being conducted under the new format that takes into account the real life situations and practical applications and repercussions of actions and reactions of business decisions. Thus academic integrity must become intrinsic part of higher education that can prepare students to become responsible adults and exhibit ethical consideration in decision making in their chosen profession or business. (1094) Reference Allen, J., D. Fuller and M. Luckett (1998). “Academic Integrity: Behaviors, Rates and Attitudes of Business Students Toward Cheating”. Journal of Marketing Education 20(1): 41-52. Chapman, K., R. Davis, D. Troy, L. Wright (2004). “Academic Integrity in the Business School Environment: I’ll Get By with a Little Help from My Friends”. Journal of Marketing Education, Vol. 26 No. 3. Goldberg, Michael A. (1996). ‘The case against “Practicality” and “Relevance” as Gauges of Business Schools’. University of British Columbia. Lawson, R. (2004). “Is Classroom Cheating Related to Business Students’ Propensity to Cheat in the “Real World”?”. Journal of Business Ethics, Volume 49, Number 2, 189-199. Leming, J. (1980). “Cheating Behavior, Subject Variables, and Components of the Internal-External Scale Under High and Low Risk Conditions”. Journal of Educational Research. Volume 74, 83-87. Nonis, S. & C. Swift (1998). “Deterring Cheating Behavior in the Marketing Classroom: An Analysis of the Effects of Demographics, Attitudes, and In-Class Deterrent Strategies”. Journal of Marketing Education. 20(3):188-99. Read More