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Academic Integrity

The Academic Bridge Program of the Qatar Foundation has just started its fifth year. One of the main goals of the Program this year is instilling the notion of academic integrity in all its students. Abiding by the rule of intellectual honesty is a fundamental requirement of the Program and every student enrolled in the ABP undertakes to respect the ABP Academic Honor Pledge.

According to ABP policy, any form of academic dishonesty is contrary to the spirit of university education. Plagiarism, use of unauthorised materials, copying other people's work, fabrication of data, collusion, and falsification of academic records are all examples of academic dishonesty. All ABP students are frequently reminded that intellectual progress and achievements depend not only on scholarly effort and research skills, but also on integrity in the way their studies are pursued. As Thomas Jefferson famously remarked, "honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." It is every student's responsibility to ensure that any assignment they complete and present to the ABP faculty is not involved in plagiarism or other forms of dishonest academic conduct, but is a result of their independent, individual effort.

The importance of maintaining complete honesty in attempting academic activities is emphasized by the Acting Director of the ABP, Dr. John Aydelott, in his welcome message included in this year's handbook - "As you work towards being the best student you can be, we encourage you to be honest with yourself, with your classmates, and with the Program. This means that, for any graded project, you must do your work without the help of anyone else and without giving inappropriate help to others" (Student Handbook and Planner, 2005-06).

Further in the handbook, it is made very clear that "students who fail to conduct themselves in the appropriate manner may be subject to removal from the Program". The ABP will not accept ignorance of the nature of intellectual dishonesty as a mitigating circumstance and students who present plagiarised or copied work may be expelled.

Although the concept of academic integrity has always been an important element of the system of values promoted by the ABP and the Qatar Foundation as a whole, this year the ABP is taking a new approach to instilling this value. A special session on intellectual honesty was held by Dr John Aydelott, the Acting Director of the ABP, and Dr Saif Ali Al Hajari, Vice-Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, on Sunday, 4th September. Lectures and workshops on academic honesty will be held during the semester to help students understand the importance of this concept.

The strong message on academic integrity conveyed by the ABP and the Qatar Foundation is aptly summarised in the words by Mary Kay Ash, one of the most prominent businesswomen in the history of the US: "Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform cease to exist."