Our Ethics
The Oxford School of Learning completely endorses the QISAN Code of Ethics for Educational Institutions:
QISAN Code of Ethics for Educational Institutions
- The marketing of education services overseas should be consistent with the maintenance of academic standards and the safeguarding of the interests of both institutions and international students.
- Institutions should promote accurately and honestly educational programmes in terms of quality, standing and availability.
- Institutions should have a clearly enunciated policy for all staffs, representatives and agents with respect to the promotion and marketing of education services overseas.
- Institutions should acknowledge the need for good practice to ensure fairness in their promotion and marketing of educational services overseas with regard to :
4.1 Other institutions
4.2 interests of both local and international students
4.3 The perceived quality of the education
4.4 The cultural and educational relationships among the countries - Differences among institutions should be portrayed in a comprehensible and accurate way so as to project a cooperative marketing image to the target countries. No false or misleading comparisons should be drawn with any other provider.
- Selection criteria for international students should be such as to maintain the institution’s academic standards and to encourage high success rates.
- Institutions should recognize on-going responsibilities for the education and welfare of international students, ensuring that the academic programmes, support services and learning environment offered encourage a positive attitude towards the institutions.
- Institutions should establish an appropriate infrastructure to be the focal point for all enquiries and to ensure both the effective implementation of the institutions’ international students programme and the provision of all necessary support services.
- Institutions should provide to prospective international students accurate and comprehensive information on the institutions admission requirements and procedures, the courses available, tuition and living costs, living conditions, accommodation and other services. Advertisements and promotional literature should not include misleading or ambiguous statements about the nature of the course, or the cost of the award offered.
- Staff members representing institutions overseas should be carefully selected and be:
10.1 Sympathetic, clear communicators with a thorough knowledge of their own institution’s courses and procedures
10.2 Sensitive to the culture and customs of the target country, and aware of its historical and political background and educational systems
10.3 Knowledgeable, experienced and competent in the administration of student policy and in face-to-face dealings with students - To the extent that it is relevant the spirit of this Code also is intended to apply to institutions and their national and international partner institutions which offer courses through twinning arrangements, distance education or other modes.
- Institutions should at all times conduct themselves with integrity and in a manner that will contribute to the image of a reliable and trustworthy provider of high quality education and training.
- Institutions should promote themselves in a professional and ethical manner and should ensure that all marketing activities reflect best practice.
- Institutions should behave toward other institutions, professional colleagues and other countries in a respectful and courteous manner.
- Institutions should be aware of all other codes of practice and guidelines that may have relevance to international activities and international students and should ensure that they observe the requirements of these codes.
Source: http://www.qisan.com/
In recent months we have become particularly worried about the growing incidents of cheating in the Academic field. Rather than list such incidents here we suggest people visit : the CONE site
This is just one example listing incidents of cheating in British Education. For some cheating may even be the accepted approach:
“Those who would rather fail exams than cheat are idiots,” said Liu, a junior. “Today many student’s minds are just not on learning and consequently know almost nothing teachers have taught them. How can they memorize such an enormous amount of knowledge several days before an exam? So, they have to cheat.”
Xiao Lu, a woman student, said that she cheated because she wanted high scores to please her parents.
“So many people cheat in exams, I feel I would lose out if I kept honest,” said Zhong, a foreign language student at a Guangxi college. “In some classes everybody cheats and they would be called hypocrites if they kept upright.
And there are other students, men in particular, who cheat for the sake of personal loyalty to their friends.
All in all, those interviewed said most students cheated and those who are absolutely honest are small in number.”
Source: China Through a Lens
Often students may be tempted to use such services as Degree Essays UK:
Their site clearly states:
“None of our work is to be passed off as your own nor is it to be reproduced either in whole or in part. This a breach of our copyright and also constitutes plagiarism. Before ordering you should fully investigate your university guidelines to ensure that you do not infringe them. If we suspect that any essays or materials are being used for cheating we will refuse to carry out work for the person involved”
Nevertheless unscrupulous students may still buy essays and seek to pass them off as their own. At Oxford School of Learning we prevent this by making absolutely sure we are well aware of our students and their abilities. This is done by setting timed written work in class. We also have weekly test examinations. This enables us to spot coursework that is not original.
Another problem, made worse by the internet, is that of plagiarism. We urge all visitors to visit the Plagiarism Advisory Service site
Teachers/Lecturers may also care to read : “How to Recognize Plagiarism”
The Oxford School of Learning response to cheating
If any student is found to have cheated for their coursework or in their examinations their results will be cancelled and they will immediately be expelled from the School. There will be no refunds of course fees; there will be no second chances. Students have the right of appeal ONLY if there is a question over the evidence. Ignorance of our policy or of the illegality of cheating, will not be a defence.
Just because schools cheat, doesn’t make it right!