The College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) believes that academic integrity is central to the mission of an institution of higher education, and expects its students to adhere to high standards of academic integrity in all forms of assessments including assignments and examinations.

CPCE views any violations of academic integrity as a serious disciplinary offence because it seriously undermines the value of teaching, learning and research. Students who cheat in their academic work limit their learning because they have not undergone the learning experience intentionally designed to help them gain the specific knowledge or skills. At the same time, if some students cheat in the assessment and get a good grade, it is not fair to the others who are honest and do their own work.

Finally, academic dishonesty will tarnish the reputation of the programme and its graduates and in the long run, diminish the value of the degree or education from CPCE.

A. Avoiding Plagiarism:

Students are required to submit their original work and avoid any possible suggestion of plagiarism in the work they submit for grading or credit. Below are some suggestions on how you can avoid plagiarism in your own work:

1. Use sources with care and respect
   • Take careful notes so that you know where you found the information;
   • Keep track of all the sources you have used for each assignment;
   • Cite all your sources in your finished work, distinguishing carefully between your own ideas/ work and those taken from others;
   • Include all your sources in your References or Bibliography section, normally included at the end of the paper.

    

2. Find out the expectations of your subject and your teacher
   
   • Different disciplines or professions may have slightly different conventions for citation and referencing.  Ask your teacher for the specific citing and reference system or conventions used in your chosen profession/ discipline;
   • Ask your teacher what type of collaboration and help is permitted for the specific assignment.

    

3. Develop your academic skills
   • Plan your academic work carefully and start early so that you have time to do your own work;
   • Make a work schedule for your work and try to keep to it;
   • Study resource materials and, if appropriate, attend courses or workshops to continually improve your skills in referencing and academic writing.

    

4. Be honest, and always do your own work
   • Do not attempt to disguise copying from sources, for example, by translating from sources in another language or changing some words of a copied text. Proper referencing is required.
   • Do not quote, summarise or paraphrase from sources that you do not fully understand. Always be able to explain what the source means and why it is relevant.

B.  Avoiding Cheating:

You are required to note the rules governing the conduct of on-campus invigilated examinations, and the relevant rules and guidelines for online assessment as appropriate. Failure to observe any of these rules may result in disciplinary actions which may include disqualification from examination, suspension of study, expulsion from programme of study, etc. Please refer to the Conduct of Examination as stipulated in the Student Handbook relevant to your study.

CPCE, via its educational units, Hong Kong Community College (HKCC) and School of Professional Education and Executive Development (SPEED), provides great support and resources to students to raise their awareness of academic integrity and prevent student plagiarism.

CPCE attaches great importance to academic integrity and honesty and upholds high standard in examination and in continuous assessment. In case of proven dishonesty including plagiarism, disciplinary actions will be taken by the Unit/ Academic Division concerned or the Student Discipline Committee. Please refer to the “Penalties for Offences” under “Regulations and Rules” section of the HKCC/ SPEED Student Handbook.