Aims

This policy aims to set out the position of Chiltern Training Ltd. on plagiarism and to state staff and learner responsibilities in this area.

Objectives

This document aims to:

• Define the term ‘plagiarism’.
• Explain why plagiarism is unfair and not acceptable
• Set out the commitment of Chiltern Training Ltd. to prevent plagiarism
• Advise of action to be taken on detection of plagiarism
• Advise how impact of this policy will be measured and monitored

Introduction: What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is dishonest and a form of cheating. Neville (2007) defines plagiarism as:

"A practice that involves knowingly taking and using another person’s work and claiming it, directly or indirectly, as your own."

This definition is very wide and covers a range of degrees of seriousness
and intention. Learners may plagiarise the work of others on purpose to obtain a qualification unfairly. Alternatively, learners may plagiarise unintentionally out of not knowing how to record research from web sites and text books. Whether it is intentional or not, plagiarism presents a problem when it interferes with the accurate assessment of a learner’s knowledge and skills.

Our Policy on Plagiarism

Chiltern Training Ltd. has an obligation to the awarding bodies, the learners, the employers and society in general, to ensure that plagiarism does not allow learners to attain qualifications that do not accurately represent their own knowledge and skills.

Plagiarism undermines the value of qualifications for all concerned. If a learner achieves a qualification by unfair means then this is also unfair to all other learners who achieve the same qualification fairly.

Plagiarism may also be seen as a breach of trust between staff and learners, and between individual learners. Furthermore, it may suggest a disregard for values such as honesty and fairness, which may affect relationships between employers and apprentices.

For these reasons, Chiltern Training Ltd. will take all appropriate measures to ensure that learners’ submitted work is their own, and that plagiarism and other forms of cheating have not taken place.

It is the responsibility of all learners and staff to ensure that learners’ submitted work, especially for the purposes of summative assessment, is their own work.

Chiltern Training Ltd. will take appropriate action where plagiarism is detected. This may result in disciplinary action and removal from the programme.

Measures to Prevent Plagiarism

Chiltern Training Ltd. will:

• Train staff in plagiarism prevention and detection
• Inform learners of our position on plagiarism
• Promote an ethos of fairness and appropriate reward for effort
• Ensure that learners are taught how to record research and reference work appropriately
• Take disciplinary action as appropriate

Learners are expected to:

• Read the Guidance Booklet on Plagiarism - ‘Your Submitted Work’.
• Ask staff for help if they do not fully understand the contents of the booklet.
• Advise staff of any issues which may impact on their ability to complete their work.
• Refrain from plagiarism.

Impact Measures and Monitoring

Annual review of data on incidents of plagiarism and subsequent outcomes.

Observation of teaching and learning, staff and learner feedback, and staff training.

Related documents

‘Your submitted Work’ - Guidance Booklet on Plagiarism for Learners.

Harvard Referencing Guide (for Staff and Learners).

Reference

Neville, C., 2007. The Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism.
Maidenhead: Open University Press (McGraw-Hill Education)