In this month’s podcast, Richard Kjellgren (University of Stirling) talks to Mairéad Boland, QQI, about the scoping study, Criminal Grades? Contract cheating and student exploitation in Higher Education, which he conducted alongside Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith (University of Stirling) and Professor Alistair Fraser (University of Glasgow).
The study was published by the Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research in June 2022 and was undertaken in order to consider student vulnerabilities relating to contract cheating and – more broadly – academic misconduct. In the podcast, Richard discusses what the research uncovered about different types of contract cheating provision and key messages for education providers.
Note: The study 'Criminal Grades? Contract cheating and student exploitation in Higher Education' categorises contract cheating services into three broad types based on the platforms on which they are provided: cheating organisations’ own websites (“essay mills”), small ads platforms such as Gumtree, and ‘outsourcing’ sites such as Fiverr. Any comments in the podcast with regard to Gumtree or Fiverr should not be construed as claims that these sites are essay mills; rather, Richard discusses in the podcast how Fiverr, Gumtree and similar sites can be misused by contract cheating organisations as platforms for providing their services to learners. Fiverr clearly states in its Terms of Service that users of its site are prohibited from “offering to prepare academic works on behalf of Buyers”. In its Terms & Conditions of Use, Gumtree stipulates that users of the site are prohibited from “post[ing] Content in breach any applicable laws or regulation”. QQI encourages listeners to report any misuse of the Fiverr and/or Gumtree platforms (and other similar platforms) directly to the relevant platform.
Find the study here
To learn more about the National Academic Integrity Network
#ConferenceCatchUp: Professor Jacqueline McCormack on insights into higher education 4.0
#ConferenceCatchUp: Helen Gniel of TEQSA speaks about GAIN, the Global Academic Integrity Network
#ConferenceCatchUp: Goran Dakovic on ENQA’s internal agency activities
CEFRL Conversations: Ludka Kotarska
#ConferenceCatchUp: Tony Connelly on a changing Europe and its impacts on Irish tertiary education
#ConferenceCatchUp: ENQA President Douglas Blackstock with future perspectives for European quality assurance
NAIN Podcast Series: An Interview with Sarah Elaine Eaton
#ConferenceCatchUp: Elon University’s Professor Peter Felten on centring students in quality assurance
#ConferenceCatchUp: Professor Mark Brown on future trends and digital transformation
#ConferenceCatchUp: Minister Simon Harris launches the Global Academic Integrity Network
#ConferenceCatchUp: Dr Ailsa Crum on the challenges of transnational education
CEFRL Conversations: Peter Brown
#ConferenceCatchUp: Dr Terry Hartle on International challenges facing the education system
#ConferenceCatchUp: Professor Jane Stout on the impact of climate action on quality and qualifications
NAIN Podcast Series: An Interview with Megan O’Connor
CEFRL Conversations: Thom Kiddle
NAIN Podcast Series: An Interview with Kane Murdoch
1. Introduction to QQI—Trailer 1
2. Quality Assurance—Trailer 1
3. Qualifications and the QQI Award—Trailer 2
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