SIS Global, in collaboration with North-West University (NWU), proudly introduces Academia Integritas, an innovative software application designed to safeguard the sanctity of academic integrity in educational institutions. This pioneering solution was showcased at a recent HEITSA (Higher Education Information Technology South Africa) webinar, garnering enthusiastic feedback and marked interest from numerous universities and colleges, with a sharp focus on nurturing Academic Integrity.
Ian Bayley, Global Education Head at SIS Global, joined forces with NWU’s Professor Anné H. Verhoef to highlight the critical role of academic integrity in today’s education sphere. They emphasised the synergy between NWU’s research-driven approach and SIS Global’s market acumen, culminating in this timely innovation. With three decades of commitment to educational excellence, SIS Global celebrates this partnership with NWU, bringing to market a solution poised to enhance academic quality and integrity.
A New Standard for Academic Integrity
Academia Integritas is an educative tool that helps academic staff manage issues of academic dishonesty efficiently by automating the reporting process and providing educational solutions for students, while also ensuring that everything is done according to university rules and legal standards.
Academia Integritas is a module available within Edu365, SIS Global’s comprehensive ERP solution for higher education, or available as a standalone solution. This innovative tool was developed to address the rising concerns of academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarising, particularly with the advent of AI technologies that make unethical practices easier. It is an educative and fair reporting and record keeping system for the enhancement of academic integrity.
The Academia Integritas software application enables:
Professor Verhoef elaborated on the extensive development process of Academia Integritas, which began in 2021. The solution was crafted with input from lecturers, professors, and students, ensuring that it addresses real-world challenges effectively. The platform aims to create a culture of academic integrity that is equitable, legally sound, and conducive to learning.
Addressing the Evolving Educational Landscape
The impetus for Academia Integritas was sparked by the challenges introduced by the increase in remote learning along with the advent of sophisticated AI and other technologies, highlighting the critical need for reliable academic integrity solutions.
Dismaying statistics from the Center for Academic Integrity reveal that around 80% of tertiary students have engaged in cheating, with 17% utilising essay-writing services, while a staggering 58% of high school students confessed to plagiarism. Further studies, including one from Rutgers University, indicate a troubling increase in academic dishonesty, with 64% of students admitting to cheating on tests.
Academia Integritas is currently being used at NWU who are seeing the benefits and had this to say: “Academia Integritas greatly assists our lecturing and research staff to transparently and effectively manage the response process for integrity transgressions by students and administered within the relevant faculty processes, bringing to bear consistency of approach, transparency and efficiency, while maintaining an educational and rehabilitative ethos, for the University. We are happy to recommend the Academia Integritas system for all educational institutions”, Prof Robert Balfour, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning and Prof Marlene Verhoef, Registrar at NWU.
The Key Benefits of Academia Integritas
Deterrence: A transparent reporting framework that actively discourages academic dishonesty.
Prevention: Educates and raises awareness to pre-empt potential violations of academic principles.
Compliance: Assures adherence to the highest legal and educational standards.
Education: Enhances the understanding and appreciation of academic integrity among the academic community.
A Leap Forward in Academic Integrity
Academia Integritas, represents a significant advancement in maintaining academic integrity. By focusing on deterrence, prevention, compliance, and education, this solution aims to uphold the highest academic standards while promoting a culture of integrity among students and staff.
For more information or to schedule a demo, please contact:
SIS Global
Email: marketing@sisglobal.com
North-West University
Phone: 0182991569
Email: anne.verhoef@nwu.ac.za
Website: https://www.nwu.ac.za/
About SIS Global
SIS Global is a leading Global Education System Integrator (GESI), renowned for its expertise in devising, designing, and executing transformative IT strategies and solutions tailored for educational institutions worldwide.
About North-West University
North-West University is a prominent South African institution committed to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, fostering a culture of integrity and innovation in education. The latest Global 2000 list, which is published by the CWUR, places the NWU among the top 4,2% of the world’s best universities.
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