Academic Integrity Honour Code, by the Students for the Students

Progressing the Academic Integrity Honour Code

Western students have made significant progress in developing a Student Honour Code to provide a guide and a set of values for academic integrity. All 2019 commencing students will engage with the Code in their first few weeks of study. Created by the students and for the students, the Code will help communicate a message about the importance of academic integrity for genuine learning, personal and professional growth, self-esteem, maintaining the good reputation of the University and ultimately – for the reputation of students’ own degrees.

In May, a group of students from various Schools got together to draft the Academic Integrity Student Honour Code – the first of its kind in Australia. At a workshop held last month, PASS facilitators had an opportunity to review the first draft of the Code. The idea of an Honour Code authored by students was well received and there was overwhelming support for the idea that students should take leadership in promoting a culture of academic integrity at Western. Furthermore, PASS participants provided more than 70 pieces of high-quality feedback on the content, structure and wording of the Code. These recommendations will be incorporated into the Code before it gets shared with other student groups for the final round of feedback.

Students-partners involved in the development of the Code have indicated that they hope it will make a strong contribution to the strengthening of a culture of academic integrity at Western, and form the backbone for existing initiatives such as PASS peer-mentoring on academic integrity, Academic Integrity Week, the compulsory Academic Integrity Module, embedded learning activities, and so on.

There is nothing as exciting as seeing a grassroots student-led initiative growing and having impact on the entire student community at Western!

Learn more about other academic integrity initiatives at Western. (opens in a new window)