Degree fraud cheats both learners and employers and has no place at all in our higher education system. This Government is committed to tackling academic misconduct, and upholding the hard work of students, especially during this difficult time. 

I welcome the introduction of QAA’s Academic Integrity Charter and encourage all universities and colleges to join this sector-wide effort to protect our students and uphold the integrity of our world leading higher education.

Academic misconduct, and those individuals and companies seeking to encourage and benefit from such behaviour, is increasingly concerning in higher education across the globe. Although the vast majority of students achieve their qualifications entirely by legitimate means, any form of academic misconduct or cheating poses a threat to overall academic standards at our institutions.

While I fully respect the autonomy of institutions in establishing their own disciplinary policies to address this problem, I welcome those that have signed up to the Academic Integrity Charter. Doing so signals a clear commitment to collaborate across the sector and work with staff and students to protect and promote academic integrity.

I am glad to see that all of our universities in Wales have signed QAA’s Academic Integrity Charter. Academic misconduct and those that seek to profit from it are a threat to the integrity of our higher education sector and undermine the efforts of the overwhelming majority of students who work so hard to achieve their qualifications. I welcome QAA’s commitment to supporting institutions in the work of ensuring academic integrity and its focus on upholding academic standards in our higher education sector.