Title: Plagiarism and its implications on higher education in developing countries

Authors: Saqib Saeed, Rizwan Aamir, Muhammad Ramzan

Addresses: Department of Information Systems and New Media, University of Siegen, Holderlinstr, 3, 57076, Germany. ' Information Systems Department, Bahria University, Shangrilla Road, Sector E-8 Islamabad, Pakistan. ' Institute of Information Technology, Arid Agriculture University, Muree Road Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract: Plagiarism at higher education institutions is a big threat to academic standards. It is a widely prevalent phenomenon in student population, although mainly due to their lack of awareness, but also due to weak controlling mechanisms within the education systems. Coupled with socio-economic situations, plagiarism becomes a big motivation to enhance academic credentials and to gain financial benefits. Transformation into knowledge-based economy is the only hope for the developing countries to be competitive in modern world. Poor educational standard could create lack of competitiveness among graduates in developing countries to be competitive at international level. In this paper, we discuss the motivation and reasons for indulging in plagiarism for students and academicians in educational institutions in developing countries. We also provide guidelines for controlling the phenomenon from academic institutions. Our guidelines suggest an extensive focus on higher education provision by the policy makers to implement a well thought out strategy.

Keywords: plagiarism; developing countries; student perceptions; curriculum design; organisational practices; higher education; learning; motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2011.039552

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2011 Vol.3 No.2/3/4, pp.123 - 130

Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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