Challenges of academic misconduct in universities

Abstract

Academic misconduct in terms of cheating in universities has been on a rise in the last decade. It is a challenge because of its frequency as well as students sacrificing their education for what they think are indicators of success. The aim of this study was to access the impacts and practices of various academic misconducts among the students at Makerere University. The study was a cross sectional study based on the quantitative data collected from a sample of 146 students from different colleges of Makerere University using a semi structured online questionnaire. The analysis was done using the multivariate logistic regression model. The results indicated about 37% of the students are involved in acts of academic misconduct. The main predictors of indulging in academic misconduct are; age (p-value=0.02) and had positive correlation with academic misconduct, inadequate preparation for examinations by students (p-value=0.002) and syllabus coverage by lecturers by the time students sit their examinations (p-value=0.014) as well as Year of study (second years) (p-value=0.005) where students in second year are more likely to indulge in acts of academic misconduct. In conclusion, age of a student, inadequate preparation for examinations, lecturers not fully covering the syllabus by the time students sit their examinations and students in second year of their study are the predictors of participation in acts of academic misconduct. The study therefore recommended, sensitization of students by University management and student leadership to always adequately prepare for their examinations, Academic staff being persuaded to fully cover the syllabus before students do their examinations, sensitization and awareness implemented by University Management to mature and continuing students since the study showed second year students are most likely to indulge in academic misconduct practices in order to curb down such practices among the university students.