The Number of SDU Exam Cheating Cases Increases Slightly

A greater effort and a more uniform praxis means that all cases regarding exam cheating are handled according to the same protocol, regardless of the student's faculty enrollment, Vesterbæk recounts. This has become a natural consequence due to, among other variables, the three-year trial project "Sagsbehandling på uddannelsen", where the local administrations handled simple cases regarding exam cheating. The project ultimately proved "more trouble-enhancing than trouble-solving" as quoted in the Council of Education's verbatim report of November 22. 2017.

The streamlining and centralization have entailed a much quicker, as well as a more consistent and pedagogical case handling, meaning that the student can accept a verdict in accordance with the rules and praxis in force, and resume his or hers educational course, Vesterbæk remarks. 

A greater focus among the academic staff at the 

It is difficult to apply an absolute definition as to how much and in what way references are applied correctly. As a minimum it has to be adequate so that there can be no doubt as to which ideas, definition, graphs, tables, sentences etc. are originally created for the specific assignment. Plagiarism does not have a minimal limit, but Vesterbæk adds, that the principal of proportionality applies to exam cheating sanctions, and that "all cases are assessed upon a specific and individual case assessment". 

The majority of plagiarism cases are first-time violations and are typically sanctioned with a warning and a used examination attempt. Second-time violations and aggravating circumstances such as cheating in the bachelor project are, as a minimum, sanctioned with a semester’s expulsion, Vesterbæk clarifies. He furthermore remarks that seeing a student involved in three separate cases is extremely rare. Awareness at the faculties  heightens each semester, and the tendency is apparent  both at SDU and nationally: Exam irregularities have increased slightly, as reflected in the rising number of permanent and temporary expulsions on SDU, Vesterbæk tells. 

It is a formal requirement to reference, even to oneself, if a formerly graded text is reused. This applies to voluntary assignments also, Vesterbæk emphasizes. The snitch application Exam Monitor, cellphone detectors, and the plagiarism software SafeAssign although have not resulted in a reduction in cheating. The methods for doing so have just evolved more cunning, Vesterbæk assesses, after continuous implementations of technical remedies to safeguard evidence in cases regarding presumed cheating. This has resulted continuous changes in the university rules as a case in never set in motion exclusively due to a hunch, as it requires proof, Vesterbæk informs. 

Referencing is a craft

The rules applying to adequate and correct referencing is not a matter which should be considered merely in exam situations. This is especially evident because a large portion of cases involve students who are unaware of the rules. 

The biggest pitfalls among this specific group is self-plagiarism, extensive cooperation, and shared notes, Vesterbæk summarizes. Though, in the same breath, he emphasizes that shared notes are allowed, as long as they are referenced. Otherwise, exam assignments may become similar-sounding, falling into the risk of being deemed plagiarism. Within this group, who inadvertently has committed the violation, the cases have also increased, Vesterbæk adds. 

The guidelines as to how to reference sources can be found in the reference standard guide used at the respective faculties. The usage of reference standards is an academic discipline which can always be refreshed even by the most confident academic keystroke warrior.  Furthermore, Vesterbæk emphasizes that the art is an "academic craft" which must be fine-tuned  In this regard, he refers to the library staff, who offers courses in the reference software Endnote. 

In general, Jesper Hedegaard Vesterbæk recommends "going to the source" and inquire the university staff regarding formal questions, due to his experience, that well-meaning advice from co-students and those further into their studies may be erroneous, because curricula may change yearly.