Academic Integrity Policy

Auren Institute

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to establish the principles, standards, and procedures governing academic integrity within Auren Institute. The Institute is committed to ensuring that all academic work is conducted in a manner that upholds honesty, fairness, transparency, and credibility, in line with recognised quality assurance standards and regulatory expectations.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to:

• All learners enrolled in programmes delivered by Auren Institute
• All members of academic and administrative staff involved in teaching, assessment, and quality assurance
• All forms of assessment, including but not limited to assignments, coursework, examinations, and online assessments
• All modes of delivery, including online, blended, and face-to-face provision

3. Principles of Academic Integrity

Auren Institute upholds the following core principles:

• Honesty: Learners must present work that accurately reflects their own knowledge and understanding
• Transparency: All sources of information must be appropriately acknowledged
• Fairness: Assessment processes must be equitable and free from undue advantage
• Accountability: Learners and staff are responsible for maintaining academic standards

4. Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is defined as any action or behaviour that undermines the integrity of the assessment process. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism: The presentation of another individual’s work, ideas, or expressions as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment
• Collusion: Unauthorised collaboration between learners in the completion of assessed work
• Contract Cheating: The submission of work that has been wholly or partially completed by a third party
• Misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI): The use of AI-generated content without appropriate disclosure or in a manner that substitutes the learner’s own intellectual effort
• Cheating in Assessments: Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage, including the use of unauthorised materials or assistance

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of Artificial Intelligence tools is permitted only where it supports the learning process and does not replace the learner’s own intellectual contribution. Learners are required to:

• Ensure that submitted work reflects their own understanding and analysis
• Disclose the use of AI tools where applicable
• Comply with any specific assessment instructions relating to AI usage

Failure to comply with these requirements may constitute academic misconduct.

6. Assessment Integrity Measures

To safeguard the integrity of assessments, Auren Institute implements the following controls:

• Randomisation of assessment questions and answer options
• Time restrictions for online assessments
• Use of question banks to generate varied assessment instances
• Limitations on the number of assessment attempts
• Monitoring of learner activity within the Virtual Learning Environment

7. Detection and Monitoring

The Institute employs appropriate mechanisms to detect and prevent academic misconduct, including:

• Review of submitted work for similarity and originality
• Monitoring of learner engagement and assessment behaviour within the LMS
• Academic review by instructors and assessors

Where necessary, additional verification methods may be applied.

8. Breaches and Disciplinary Actions

Where academic misconduct is suspected or confirmed, the Institute will take appropriate action in accordance with the severity of the breach. Actions may include:

• Formal written warning
• Requirement to resubmit the assessment
• Reduction or nullification of marks
• Disqualification from the assessment or module

All cases will be handled in a fair, consistent, and proportionate manner.

9. Appeals Procedure

Learners have the right to appeal decisions relating to academic misconduct. Appeals must be submitted in writing within the timeframe specified by the Institute and will be reviewed in accordance with established procedures.

10. Roles and Responsibilities

• Learners: Responsible for adhering to this Policy and ensuring the integrity of their work
• Academic Staff: Responsible for communicating expectations, designing fair assessments, and identifying potential breaches
• Institution: Responsible for maintaining robust systems and procedures to uphold academic integrity

11. Record Keeping and Compliance

All cases of academic misconduct shall be documented and retained in accordance with institutional record-keeping policies. Records may be used for quality assurance, audit, and regulatory purposes.

12. Review of Policy

This Policy shall be reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with regulatory requirements, technological developments, and best practices in academic integrity.

Conclusion

Auren Institute is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ensuring that all qualifications awarded are credible, valid, and reflective of genuine learner achievement.

Date: 1 January 2025