AFRICODE POLICY ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
Effective date: 1 January 2024
1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE
1.1. Plagiarism is a grave violation of academic and professional integrity. Our organization maintains a strict policy against such practices, recognizing the importance of original and authentic work. Plagiarism is an act of cheating.
1.2. Cheating is a serious breach of academic and ethical standards that undermines the integrity of the learning environment. Our organization is committed to fostering an atmosphere of honesty, trust, and fairness.
1.3. The training provided by Africode is intended to provide you with a certain level of skills and development. Cheating will result in an inaccurate reflection of your skills and ability to perform the work.
1.4. Cheating in any form is strictly prohibited.
1.5. This policy is applicable to any and all participants of any of the courses offered by Africode.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
2.1.1. Copying verbatim from a source without proper citation.
2.1.2. Paraphrasing someone else's work without proper attribution.
2.1.3. Presenting someone else's ideas, concepts, or intellectual property as your own.
2.1.4. Using someone else's work, such as images, graphs, or data, without proper acknowledgment.
2.1.5. Submitting the same work for multiple assignments without obtaining permission.
2.1.6. Replicating sentences, paragraphs, or entire sections without proper citation.
2.1.7. Copying and pasting from digital or printed sources without using quotation marks and citing the original author.
2.1.8. Submitting work prepared by others as if it were one's own.
2.2. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
2.2.1. Plagiarism: Presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as your own without proper attribution.
2.2.2. Unauthorized Collaboration: Working with others on individual assignments without explicit permission from the instructor (in person or via any other electronic platform).
2.2.3. Use of Unauthorized Materials: Utilizing unauthorized notes, textbooks, electronic devices, or any other materials during examinations or assignments.
2.2.4. Copying from Others: Copying from another student's work or allowing one's work to be copied.
2.2.5. Impersonation: Having someone else take an exam or complete an assignment on your behalf.
3. CONSEQUENCES OF CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
3.1. Any form of cheating and/or plagiarism will result in severe consequences, including but not limited to:
3.1.1. A Failing Grade: Students will obtain 0% for the assignment, exam, or the entire course, depending on the severity of the cheating.
3.1.2. Certificates: The student will not be provided with a certificate for attendance or completion of the course.
3.1.3. Recorded Offense: The incident may be documented in the student's academic record.
3.1.4. Report of the cheating or plagiarism to the management of the company who paid for your course.
3.1.5. Legal Consequences: In severe cases.
3.2. The company will not provide any exceptions to these rules.
4. PREVENTING CHEATING
4.1. To prevent plagiarism, students and members of our community are strongly urged to adhere to the following principles:
4.1.1. Assignments must be completed individually and not in groups.
4.1.2. Always provide appropriate citation and attribution when using someone else's words, ideas, or intellectual property.
4.1.3. Use quotation marks for verbatim text and ensure proper citation for the quoted material.
4.1.4. When paraphrasing, rephrase ideas in your own words and provide proper attribution.
4.1.5. Submit only your original work for assignments and assessments.
4.1.6. Seek clarification from instructors regarding acceptable collaboration, citation, and use of materials.
4.1.7. Report any suspected instances of cheating to the appropriate authorities.
5. CONCLUSION
By strictly adhering to these guidelines, we collectively uphold the values of honesty, personal responsibility, and intellectual integrity within our community.