The improvement of student learning by linking inclusion/accessibility and academic integrity

A collection of practical resources aimed at promoting academic integrity is now available, thanks to a QAA-funded Collaborative Enhancement Project led by Oxford Brookes University in partnership with Bloomsbury Institute London, University of Southampton and University of Westminster.

Disproportionally high numbers of academic misconduct investigations involve BAME, international, widening participation and students with a disability. To address these issues of inclusion, this project developed innovations to engage all contemporary students in good academic practice as part of an effective approach to academic integrity. These include:

A development model for student academic integrity champions

The team co-created a step-by-step process to help other providers establish and maintain institutional student champions of academic integrity through recruiting, training and supporting them to promote academic integrity to their peers.

Inclusive and accessible academic integrity staff teaching resources

A collection of materials including interactive activities and guidance for staff to deliver inclusive and accessible academic integrity education was created using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Dr Mary Davis, Project Team leader from Oxford Brookes University, said: 'The team from four institutions greatly value the benefits of establishing student roles in academic integrity, but acknowledge these are sometimes difficult to set up and sustain. Therefore, working together with students, students’ unions, academic integrity and inclusion experts, we developed our new Student Academic Integrity CHAMPIONS model which we are glad to share with other institutions to assist them in establishing this key role.'

Dr Ailsa Crum, QAA’s Director of Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards commented: ‘Raising awareness of academic integrity through education is a key preventative measure that institutions can employ to reduce the risk of academic misconduct. The new CHAMPIONS model will be really useful for our members and the teaching resources provide a range of innovative and engaging tools that can support staff-student discussion on this important topic.’

Related QAA resources

Academic integrity is one of QAA’s membership themes for 2022-23. Our recent work in this area includes:

• A podcast which considers contract cheating, student attitudes to misconduct, and relevant regulatory frameworks and legislation that underpin how the sector maintains standards.
• A Quality Compass focused on academic integrity as a positive approach to encouraging good academic conduct.
• a briefing note to support members in tackling challenges to academic integrity which have been brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence tools.
• You can also sign up to our Academic Integrity Charter – find out more.