Helping you to understand academic integrity

As you work to submit your coursework assignments, it is really important that you are aware of the University’s expectations about academic integrity, and to be clear about what is not acceptable practice.

What is academic integrity?

At University, you are part of an academic community that shares ideas and develops new knowledge. As a member of this community, you need to be able to synthesise and interpret other people’s ideas and present them appropriately in your own academic work. This is academic integrity.

You’ll have to be aware of this when you’re completing coursework assignments, when you will need to reference the work of others. It’s important to give credit to others for their ideas, to support your thoughts with evidence, and to give yourself credit for your own ideas. The university has clear expectations about this, as stated in the University’s Code of Practice, which includes:

  • Referencing the work of others in an appropriate way
  • Identifying all your sources of information and data
  • Being honest with your findings.

Online tutorial

To help you, the University has a KnowHow online Academic Integrity tutorial. This can be accessed online anytime in the KnowHow: Academic Success module on VITAL, and you are strongly encouraged to complete this tutorial before you submit your assignments.

The tutorial includes:

  • Information about the importance of citing work by others; what can be classed as plagiarism; and what could breach copyright law
  • what makes good academic practice, and advice on how to avoid poor academic practice according to the University of Liverpool’s Code of Practice
  • advice on how to choose reliable sources of information
  • tips on time management.

How do I access the tutorial?

Log into VITAL and if you are a student, look at the My Courses list, and you should see the KnowHow: Academic success module, which contains a suite of resources and online tutorials. Click on that KnowHow link and you will find a section called ‘Academic Integrity’, where you can then select the ‘Academic Integrity Tutorial 2019-20’.

There is also this short trailer to give you a taster.  Follow this link to access the tutorial.