Meeting of the Academic Integrity Support Group

Professor Vadziuk Stepan, Chair of the Academic Integrity Support Group and Head of the Department of Physiology with the Basics of Bioethics and Biosafety, emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of academic integrity, including standards of honesty, transparency, and respect. Given that many students engage in scientific research during their studies, they must understand key concepts such as “plagiarism,” “self-plagiarism,” “falsification,” “fabrication,” “cheating,” and “deception.”

Associate Professor Tolokova Tetiana, Secretary of the Academic Integrity Support Group, presented the results of a survey conducted among over 350 students to assess their awareness of academic integrity. The survey, conducted via Google Forms and supported by corporate communication resources and the Student Parliament, revealed:

71.1% admitted using hints from peers during assessments,

12.4% used cheat sheets,

16.5% cheated during academic activities.

These findings highlight the need for a deeper understanding and promotion of academic integrity principles.

Academic integrity fosters honesty in education, which is the foundation for developing student independence and responsibility. Students acquire essential skills and enhance critical thinking and independent analytical abilities by avoiding plagiarism, cheating, and dishonesty.

Key Discussions and Proposals:

1. Professor Olha Yaremchuk (Department of Medical Biochemistry) proposed actively disseminating information about academic integrity using corporate messaging platforms to prevent violations.
2. Oksana Pukhalska, responsible for plagiarism checks, discussed the potential of utilizing academic anti-plagiarism systems to analyze sources, detect similarities, and provide feedback to authors.
3. Anastasiia Dub, Chair of the Young Scientists Council and Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacy Management and Economics reported on efforts to monitor violations of academic integrity during written assignments in the Faculty of Pharmacy.
4. Ihor Drach, Secretary of the Admissions Committee and Associate Professor of the Ukrainian Language Department, highlighted using anti-plagiarism software for students’ scientific work, such as essays.

Professor Vadziuk proposed a resolution at the meeting to deepen students’ awareness of academic integrity principles. Suggested measures include organizing round-table discussions within the university community and developing strategies to prevent violations.

The meeting underscored the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of academic integrity as a cornerstone of quality education and ethical scholarship.