Academic Integrity in the Caribbean

Academic integrity is key to the reputationof higher education institutions. Plagiarism, the most frequently occurringform of academic misconduct, poses a signi?cant threat to the maintenance ofacademic integrity globally, but it has received very little attention in theresearch literature of the Caribbean. This volume aims to lift the blanket ofsilence that surrounds plagiarism in the region by examining students’perception of plagiarism, as well as its prevalence in society generally, andat both the secondary and tertiary levels. It also examines accreditationagencies’ treatment of academic integrity in their policies. This work isvaluable to higher education administrators, faculty and students. It providesthe ?rst in-depth examination of plagiarism regionally, and includes relevantinformation and strategies aimed at helping the region to transition from thecurrent punitive approach to plagiarism management to a culture of academicintegrity.

Foreword

I am pleased that Dr. Ruth Baker-Gardnerreached out to me to write the foreword for this first book about academicintegrity in the Caribbean area. I have been active in academic integrity since2008 with most recently being the president of the International Center forAcademic Integrity (ICAI) from 2020 to 2023.

I firstinteracted with Dr. Baker-Gardner in the summer of 2018 as she was justbeginning writing this book. She was contacting me as a leader in the ICAI withthe hope to be able to share her ideas for this book with other members at thespring, 2019 annual conference. I then had the pleasure of meeting Dr.Baker-Gardner in person at that conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, UnitedStates, in March 2019 as she presented the beginnings of this work. We havesince continued our connection as I have remained in the leadership of ICAI.

During this timeperiod (2018–2020), there was little to no writing about academic integrity inthe Caribbean. The ICAI strives for an international presence; however, Dr.Baker-Gardner was our first contact with the Caribbean. With that being said,her work in this book is monumental while also showing her extreme dedicationto the field.

As you willnote, this book gives a thorough overview of what academic integrity is andprovides an understanding of plagiarism including its detection andconsequences. This is followed by research to show the actual areas of concernregarding plagiarism in the Caribbean, and concludes with practical tips andrecommendations for institutions to uphold academic integrity.

Dr.Baker-Gardner has followed the mission of the ICAI by explaining academicintegrity in terms of the six fundamental values and having the goal forinstitutions to create a culture of integrity. Tricia Bertram Gallant (2011) inher white paper entitled Building a Culture of Academic Integrity: Based on theMagna Online Seminar, ‘Helping Students Learn from Ethical Failures,’ explainsthe change of approach to academic integrity over time.  When academic integrity accountability firstbegan, the approach was one of rule compliance, focusing on following rules ina judicial or legalistic way. Over time, the approach of most academicintegrity enforcement offices has moved to an integrity approach, focusing onthe values, honour and ethics of a student. This approach tends to be moreeducational and proactive. Dr. Baker-Gardner successfully defends thiseducational approach and gives readers practical ways to implement it at theirown institution.

While Dr.Baker-Gardner’s background is focused on the Caribbean, readers from all overthe world will benefit from her writing. The ICAI does not promote one specificstructure to hold individuals accountable, but ICAI does highly encourageinstitutions to have some way to do so. As Dr. Baker-Gardner explains, thisstructure must bring in the voices of students, faculty and administrators totruly create a culture of integrity.

In conclusion,it is clear that Dr. Baker-Gardner has written this book not for it to sit onthe bookshelves of researchers or administrators. This book has been written toshow the concerns specifically in the Caribbean, but then is a call for allreaders across the globe to make real change at their own institutions based onthe practical advice and examples she gives. I encourage you as a reader totake notes and attempt to make those changes in order to continue to enhanceand promote the fundamental values of academic integrity and build a culture ofcommunity.

Camilla J.Roberts, Ph.D. Kansas State University President, ICAI