How OPTIMA Distance College ensures academic integrity

Adherence to the principles of academic integrity is one of the key aspects of the educational process at OPTIMA Professional Higher Education College. This ensures fairness and trust in learning outcomes, and contributes to the formation of high moral standards among students.

According to Article 42 of the Law of Ukraine "On Education," academic integrity is a set of ethical principles and rules defined by law that must be followed by participants in the educational process. At the college, all assignments - from entrance to qualification - must be completed by students independently. The use of outside help or unauthorized sources of information is prohibited.

To monitor compliance with the standards of academic integrity, the College has an Academic Integrity Commission. This independent body:

• reviews allegations of violations of academic integrity;
• analyzes situations and determines measures of responsibility;
• monitors compliance with ethical principles by all participants in the educational process.

In November-December 2024, academic group supervisors actively worked to raise students' awareness of the principles of academic integrity. During this period, a series of thematic discussions were held to foster a responsible attitude to learning, the importance of avoiding plagiarism, and compliance with ethical standards and honesty during exams and research papers.

The event covered all academic groups of the college, and the curators emphasized that academic integrity is an integral part of quality education and personal development.

Students may be held academically liable in case of violations, in particular:

• retake an exam or test;
• repeating a test or training module;
• issuing a reprimand.

Particular attention is paid to checking for academic plagiarism in theses, coursework and qualification papers. This process is coordinated by supervisors who are responsible for organizing the checks.

OPTIMA College actively promotes the formation of a culture of academic integrity, because it is the basis for building a successful professional future for our students!