MUSCAT: Majan University College held the first National Symposium on Academic Integrity on March 8, 2023, under the auspices of Professor Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrooqi, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Dr Jokha bint Abdullah al Shukaili, CEO of OAAAQA was also in attendance. Turnitin, the global internet-based plagiarism detection service provider, was the exclusive sponsor for this international event. The symposium was also supported by The Oman Association for Quality Higher Education (OAQHE) and OMREN, The event was a resounding success, with almost 300 registered participants attending from various local higher education institutions, as well as representatives from industry.
The symposium began with an introduction from Dr Maha Kobeil, Dean & CEO of Majan University College, who welcomed attendees and introduced the motivating presentation by Professor Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrooqi about the importance of Academic Integrity between supervisors and their students. This was followed by a keynote by Aaron Yeverski, Turnitin’s Regional VP for EMEA, with another keynote from Dr Thomas Lancaster, from Imperial College, London, reminding participants that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay.
Ten symposium speakers presented their insights into Academic Integrity with enthusiasm, honesty and courage, answering questions from the audience. Topics included ChatGPT, building a culture of Academic Integrity by emphasising personal morality, the role of assessment design and challenges in Healthcare, as well as the individual roles of students and staff in promoting Academic Integrity. Protecting students against contract cheating and other forms of academic misconduct, as well as the importance of self-efficacy were also covered in the student panel discussion.
The symposium was a unique opportunity for academics, researchers, and policymakers to come together and discuss this critical issue in an open and informative manner. Presenters shared good practices and innovative strategies and attendees left with a clearer understanding of the ways that academic Integrity can be promoted in the education sector.
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