Academic integrity policy

First: Academic integrity policy

The Institute of Studies and Consulting Services – Majmaah University is committed to high academic and professional standards in its professional diploma programs, and expects every trainee to uphold honesty, truthfulness, fairness and responsibility in all learning and training activities and academic assessments.

Work submitted for assessment must be the trainee's own, unless group work is explicitly permitted by the assessment instructions. The centre provides the support and guidance trainees need to understand academic integrity requirements, explains the rules of quoting, referencing and intellectual property, and gives training staff suitable tools and procedures to detect academic misconduct and handle it fairly and transparently.

Second: Types of academic integrity violations

1. CheatingCopying others' work or using notes, materials, devices or any unauthorised means during tests or assessments, or obtaining unpermitted help to complete academic tasks.
2. PlagiarismUsing other people's texts, ideas or work without properly citing their sources, or presenting others' work as one's own, in research, reports, assignments or projects.
3. Misuse of academic helpExploiting work or information a colleague shared in good faith without their permission or against the instructions, such as copying a report or using answers or assessment materials that are not authorised for circulation.
4. Exploiting collaborationRelying on a colleague to complete an individual assignment, exceeding the collaboration allowed in group work, or presenting someone else's contribution as one's own.
5. Fabrication and falsificationInventing information, results or references or altering academic data, or submitting untrue documents or excuses, including forged medical certificates, to gain an academic advantage or influence an assessment result.
6. ImpersonationPosing as another trainee, or taking a test, submitting an assignment or attending a training activity on their behalf, or letting another person use the trainee's own account to commit academic misconduct.
7. Leaking test and assessment contentPhotographing, publishing or circulating test questions without permission, sharing answers, or obtaining assessment content by illegitimate means.
8. Misuse of digital tools and artificial intelligenceUsing digital tools or AI applications against the assessment instructions, or presenting their output as personal work without disclosing it where disclosure is required.

Third: Detecting academic integrity violations

Training staff and the academic administration may use the following means to verify compliance with academic integrity:

1. Asking the trainee to discuss the submitted work orally to confirm they understand its content and can explain it.
2. Requesting the drafts, references and sources used to prepare research, reports and projects.
3. Using similarity and plagiarism detection tools, with the results reviewed and interpreted by specialists.
4. Comparing submitted work with the trainee's previous level of performance, and checking unusual similarities between trainees' work.
5. Reviewing learning-platform records, login records and available timings when needed, within the applicable permissions and regulations.
6. Verifying the trainee's identity during tests and assessments according to the approved procedures.
7. Reviewing the references, data and results in academic work to verify their accuracy.
8. Documenting suspected cases and available evidence and referring them to the responsible person or committee.
9. Not relying on automated tool results alone to prove a violation, and allowing the trainee to explain their position and respond to what is attributed to them.
10. Keeping trainees' data and violation evidence confidential, and limiting access to authorised persons.

Fourth: Handling academic integrity violations

When an academic integrity violation is suspected, the responsible official follows these steps:

1. Document the incident and identify the nature of the violation and the available evidence.
2. Refer the case to the academic administration or competent body according to the approved procedures.
3. Inform the trainee of the alleged violation and allow them to give their statement and respond to the evidence.
4. Study the case impartially, taking into account the nature of the violation, its circumstances and whether it is repeated.
5. Issue a reasoned decision proportionate to the violation, according to the approved regulations and powers.
6. Inform the trainee of the decision and its consequences, explaining the available appeal process.
7. Keep the documents and records of the case confidential, under the approved data-retention rules.

Fifth: Penalties and disciplinary measures

Disciplinary measures depend on the nature, seriousness and repetition of the violation, once it is proven and the approved procedures have been followed. Within its powers and the regulations that apply to the professional diploma programs, the competent body may take one or more of the following measures:

1. Verbal warning: Warning the trainee and documenting the incident where needed, or obtaining a written pledge not to repeat the violation.
2. Written warning: Issuing a formal warning to the trainee once the violation is proven.
3. Cancelling the assessment grade: Cancelling the grade of the test, assignment or project concerned, according to the approved regulations.
4. Withholding some activities or services: Temporarily barring the trainee from certain activities or specific services, where the regulations allow it.
5. Temporary suspension from the program: Temporary suspension in serious or repeated cases, where provided for in the approved regulations and within the competent body's powers.
6. Ending enrolment in the program: Ending the trainee's participation in the program in serious cases that require it, according to the approved regulations and powers.
7. Referral to the competent authority: Referring cases that require it to the competent body inside or outside the colleges under the relevant regulations.

Sixth: Appeals

The trainee may appeal a decision issued against them through the channels and within the period set in the approved regulations and procedures of Majmaah University and the Institute of Studies and Consulting Services. The competent body reviews the appeal impartially, respects the trainee's right to present their view, and informs them of the result according to the approved procedures.

Seventh: Responsibilities

Eighth: Review and update

This policy is reviewed periodically, or whenever needed, by the competent body of the Institute of Studies and Consulting Services – Majmaah University, and updated in line with the approved regulations and the requirements of the relevant regulatory bodies; any amendments are approved through the official procedures in force.

Ninth: Trainee acknowledgement