Plagiarism Policy of VGU School of Business Informatics

Definition and Scope of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using somebody else's intellectual work – ideas, information, writing, thinking, figures, images etc. – as if it were your own, without providing the original and proper credit. It also includes reusing your own work for another purpose without indicating the original context. In other words, it is a misuse of source material.

Plagiarism may include the following:

• Copying and pasting text from on-line media, such as encyclopedias, web pages etc.
• Transcribing text from any printed or on-line material. Simply modifying text from any of the above sources (e.g. replacing a few selected words).
• Using photographs, video or audio without permission or acknowledgment.
• Using another student's work and claiming it as one's own, even with permission.
• Purchasing or downloading course papers, documents or other work from commercial or non-commercial sources.
• Translation from one language to another without proper reference.
• Using a document written for another course or purpose without getting permission from the instructor of both the current course and the course in which the original work was submitted is self-plagiarism.

Submitting the result of a group work as an individual achievement without permission from the instructor is plagiarism for all parties involved.

Intentional vs. Unintentional Plagiarism

With regard to the perceived degree of seriousness of plagiarism it is distinguished between intentional and unintentional plagiarism:

• Intentional plagiarism is a severe case of academic dishonesty. The student is fully aware that he or she is using someone else's words or ideas as their own, and does so intentionally.
• Unintentional plagiarism is usually caused by lack of due care, e.g. incorrect citation. If this occurs repeatedly, however, this may be regarded as an indication of intentional plagiarism.

VGU's Policy toward Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism is absolutely unacceptable. The candidate will receive an F (fail) for the plagiarized work. In severe cases, and when the candidate has been caught of plagiarism before, the Examining Board may bar the candidate from further examinations. The right to take legal proceedings against the plagiarist is reserved.