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Hybrid:arts Assessment Malpractice Policy
Malpractice consists of those acts which undermine the integrity
and validity of assessment, the certification of qualifications and/or
damage the authority of those responsible for conducting the assessment
and certification. Hybrid:arts does not tolerate actions (or attempted
actions) of malpractice by assessors or learners.
Hybrid:arts will investigate and may impose penalties and/or disciplinary
action on assessors and learners where incidents (or attempted incidents)
of malpractice have been proven.
Introduction
The policy on malpractice aims to:
- Define malpractice in the context of assessment and certification
- Set out rights and responsibilities, with regards to malpractice,
of the training provider, its staff and learners.
It is in the interest of students and Hybrid:arts staff to respond
effectively and openly to all requests for an investigation into
an incident or a suspected incident of malpractice. A director, or
a nominee, is required to inform students and Hybrid:arts staff of
their responsibilities and rights. The director, or a nominee, is
expected to supervise investigations resulting from allegations of
malpractice.
Positive steps to prevent or reduce the occurrence of learner malpractice
should be taken by programme areas. These steps include:
- Using the induction period to inform learners of the
centre’s policy on malpractice and the penalties for attempted
and actual incidents of malpractice.
- Learners should not be discouraged from conducting research;
indeed evidence of relevant research often contributes to the achievements
of higher grades. However, the submitted work must show
evidence that the learner has interpreted and synthesised appropriate
information and has acknowledge any sources used.
- Introducing procedures for assessing work in a way that reduces
or identifies malpractice, eg plagiarism, collusion, cheating etc. These
procedures may include:
- Periods of supervised sessions during which evidence for assignments/tasks/coursework
is produced by the learner.
- Altering assessment assignments/tasks/tools on a regular basis.
- The assessor assessing the work for a single assignment/task
in a
single session for the complete cohort of learners.
- Using oral questions with learners to ascertain their understanding of
the concepts, application, etc within their work.
- Assessors getting to know their learners’ styles and abilities,
etc.
- Ensuring access controls are installed to prevent learners from accessing
and using other people’s work when using networked computers.
Learner malpractice
Attempting to or actually carrying out any malpractice activity
is not permitted by Hybrid:arts. Hybrid:arts has guidelines on Cheating & Plagiarism.These
documents should be referred to in cases of learner malpractice.
The following are examples of malpractice by learners; this list
is not exhaustive and other instances of malpractice may be considered
by the College at its discretion:
- Plagiarism by copying and passing off, as the learner’s
own, the whole or part(s) of another person’s work, including
artwork, images, words, computer generated work, thoughts, inventions
and/or discoveries whether published or not, with or without the
originator’s permission and without appropriately acknowledging
the source.
- Collusion by working collaboratively with other learners to
produce work that is submitted as individual learner work.
- Cheating to gain an unfair advantage.
- Copying from another learner (including the misuse of ICT to
do so).
- The alteration of any results document, including certificates.
- Disruptive behaviour in the examination room (including the
use of offensive language).
- Deliberate destruction of another’s work.
Hybrid:arts student disciplinary procedures will be followed where
learner malpractice is suspected.
Hybrid:arts staff malpractice
The following are examples of what would/might be constude as malpractice
by hybrid:arts staff. The list is not exhaustive and other instances
of malpractice may occur:
- Assisting students in the production of work for assessment,
where the support has the potential to influence the outcomes of
assessment, for example where the assistance involves hybrid:arts
staff producing work for the student.
- Producing falsified witness statements, for example for evidence
the student has not generated.
- Allowing evidence, which is known by the staff member not to
be the student’s own, to be included in a student’s
assignment/task/portfolio/coursework.
- Misusing the conditions for special student requirements, for
example where students are permitted support, such as an amanuensis,
this is permissible up to the point where the support has the potential
to influence the outcome of the assessment.
- Falsifying qualifications achieved either prior to or during
employment at Hybrid:arts.
Dealing with Hybrid:arts staff malpractice
It is the responsibility of the Director or his nominees to carry
out an investigation into allegations of malpractice. The alleged
incident must be reported to the Director at the earliest opportunity. Full
co-operation from the Hybrid:arts staff will be expected.
If the Director or a nominee discovers or suspects anyone of malpractice,
s/he must make the accused fully aware (preferably in writing) at
the earliest opportunity of the nature of the alleged malpractice
and of the possible consequences should malpractice be proven. If
a member of staff is accusing anyone of malpractice, the Director
must give the accused the opportunity to respond (preferably in writing)
to the allegations made. The Director must also inform anyone accused
of malpractice of the avenues for appealing should judgement be made
against them.
The Director reserves the right to access any documents held by
Hybrid:arts staff in relation to alleged malpractice. |
