Action Plan against Academic Dishonesty
Hanken promotes good scientific practice in research as well as studies and works against cheating and academic dishonesty inter alia through the Action Plan against Academic Dishonesty.
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Contact information: studycounsellor-hki@hanken.fi or studycounsellor-vaasa@hanken.fi
Academic dishonesty in studies includes
- plagiarism: use of information without proper reference, both direct and revised copying and failure to indicate citations, including self-plagiarism (using the same work as one has used for another course or thesis), or plagiarising fellow students’ work when the tasks should be completed individually,
- cheating during an examination: use of unauthorised sources or aids or looking at fellow examinees’ answers during an exam, or other collaboration regarding tasks to be performed individually,
- other academic dishonesty or misconduct, such as fabrication or distortion of data or facts, theft of an idea or a plan, or use of "ghost-writers", and
- other illicit actions or illicit means in connection with study attainments, such as attendance cheating.
In cases of academic dishonesty Hanken's Action Plan against Academic Dishonesty will be followed.
Hanken's Action plan against academic dishonesty
If you are suspected of academic dishonesty the examiner must
- hear you and inform you about the possible consequenses, and inform and consult the Head of Subject or Head of Department
- report and make a decision in the case
- send the report to plagiat@hanken.fi, which is read by members of the Disciplinary Committee
If you are caught or suspected of cheating during an exam the exam supervisor can end your exam immediately. They must report the course of events to the examiner, who then follows the same action plan as in case of plagiarism above.
Academic dishonesty usually results in failing the course. All serious cases of academic dishonesty (for example all dishonesty in thesis work) or cases that are seen as precedents will be dealt with by the school's Disciplinary Committee. A student found guilty of cheating or otherwise violates the order at the universtiy can be given a written warning by the Rector of, if the act is serious, suspended from the university for a certain period of time by the Board. The Disciplinary Committee cannot make dacisions on penalties, but makes a recommendation to the examiner, the Rector or the Board.
You have the right to file a request for rectification also when you have been failed due to cheating.
Plagiarism and plagiarism check
You must always acknowledge when you have borrowed text from other sources by including a reference. Copying from articles, books, a fellow student’s work, or the internet without informing the reader constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism violates proper academic conduct and is therefore considered cheating.
To avoid plagiarism, it is essential that you master referencing techniques. Instructions on how to reference correctly can be found in the library’s Reference Guide. As a Bachelor’s student, you will learn referencing techniques in the course Introduction to Academic Studies and during your introductory courses.
All Master’s, Licentiate, and Doctoral theses at Hanken are checked for plagiarism using a plagiarism detection software. Other written assignments may also be subject to plagiarism checks. The software generates a report that the teacher uses as a tool to assess whether a written assignment or thesis contains elements of academic misconduct.
Cheating during exams
During exams
- you are only allowed to bring with you your ID, pens and what possible materials or aids that are explicitly mentioned on the exam paper
- it is forbidden to talk, share materials or use any help not explicitly mentioned on the exam paper
- the exam supervisor has the right to immediately end a student's exam if s/he is caught cheating or is intentionally creating a disturbance.