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| 'Blind eye' turned to exam cheats | 'Blind eye' turned to exam cheats |
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| Universities are turning a blind eye to cheating to boost degree results, a leading academic has said. | Universities are turning a blind eye to cheating to boost degree results, a leading academic has said. |
| Buckingham University's Professor Geoffrey Alderman says league tables create pressure to award high marks. | Buckingham University's Professor Geoffrey Alderman says league tables create pressure to award high marks. |
| The number of first-class honours degrees awarded has risen by more than 100% in the past decade. The number of undergraduates is up by just over 40%. | The number of first-class honours degrees awarded has risen by more than 100% in the past decade. The number of undergraduates is up by just over 40%. |
| Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said all courses were subject to regular internal monitoring. | Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said all courses were subject to regular internal monitoring. |
| Professor Alderman, who used to set standards at the University of London, will say in a lecture that academics are under pressure to turn a blind eye to plagiarism and "mark positively", which could lead to a collapse in degree standards. | Professor Alderman, who used to set standards at the University of London, will say in a lecture that academics are under pressure to turn a blind eye to plagiarism and "mark positively", which could lead to a collapse in degree standards. |
| PLAGIARISM 9,200 students caught143 expelledMost common penalty to re-submit workMore students received verbal reprimand than were expelled Few penalties for plagiarism | PLAGIARISM 9,200 students caught143 expelledMost common penalty to re-submit workMore students received verbal reprimand than were expelled Few penalties for plagiarism |
| Despite the rise in first class degrees, Professor Alderman says standards have actually dropped. | Despite the rise in first class degrees, Professor Alderman says standards have actually dropped. |
| He also says universities have been lenient with overseas students because they rely on them heavily for their fees. | He also says universities have been lenient with overseas students because they rely on them heavily for their fees. |
| Professor Alderman will say: "Standards of English literacy at UK universities are often poor. | Professor Alderman will say: "Standards of English literacy at UK universities are often poor. |
| "To compensate for this, lecturers are pressured to 'mark positively'. This is particularly true in relation to international students, whose full-cost fees are now a lucrative and essential source of much-needed revenue. | "To compensate for this, lecturers are pressured to 'mark positively'. This is particularly true in relation to international students, whose full-cost fees are now a lucrative and essential source of much-needed revenue. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| He will add: "I have heard it seriously argued that international students who plagiarise should be treated more leniently than British students because of 'differential cultural norms'. | He will add: "I have heard it seriously argued that international students who plagiarise should be treated more leniently than British students because of 'differential cultural norms'. |
| "It is indeed rare, nowadays, for habitual plagiarists to be expelled from their universities." | "It is indeed rare, nowadays, for habitual plagiarists to be expelled from their universities." |
| A study published recently found only 143 students caught cheating were expelled out of 9,200 cases - despite almost all universities threatening expulsion as a sanction. | A study published recently found only 143 students caught cheating were expelled out of 9,200 cases - despite almost all universities threatening expulsion as a sanction. |
| Universities UK said the system for assuring quality and standards in higher education was "sound and well-established". | Universities UK said the system for assuring quality and standards in higher education was "sound and well-established". |
| A spokesman added: "It is also well respected internationally and has informed and influenced parallel developments worldwide." | A spokesman added: "It is also well respected internationally and has informed and influenced parallel developments worldwide." |
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you agree with Professor Alderman's comments. Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you agree with Professor Alderman's comments. Send us your experiences using the form below. |