Ethical Principles of Education and Code of Conduct for the Prevention and Processing of Misconduct in Studies

Belonging to the scientific community requires a commitment from each of its members to common ethical principles. For students, this means e.g. the fact that the input or text of others is not taken into their own name and that honestness is taken in exam and teaching situations. Violation of good scientific practice can either be research misconduct or disregard for the responsible conduct of research.

In the academic setting, misconduct in studies means any dishonest activity undertaken by the student to give the wrong impression of either their own or another student’s knowledge with the intention of influencing the acceptance of a study attainment and its evaluation. Misconduct in studies can be, for instance, copying another student's answer in an exam, copying another student’s essay or assignment and presenting it as one’s own study attainment or the omission of used sources. Any kind of misconduct in studies is prohibited, and the University of Oulu takes all unethical and fraudulent activity very seriously.

Cases of alleged research misconduct or misconduct in studies are investigated without exception. Proved misconduct in studies always leads to the rejection of the study attainment. Proven misconduct in studies will also lead to the rejection of the submitted thesis. Depending on the seriousness of the misconduct, the student may also receive a warning or be expelled from the university for a maximum of one year. In the case of an international exchange student, his/her home university shall also be informed about the misconduct in studies and the exchange may be interrupted.

Misconduct in studies may also constitute a criminal offence by law, such as in the case of copyright violation, falsifying a transcript of records, a certificate or any other document, or trading falsified documents. The university may submit the suspected crime to the police for investigation.

The University of Oulu follows the Code of conduct for the prevention and processing of misconduct in studies. The student must report any misconduct in studies to the teacher in charge of the course with an alleged misconduct in studies report form. If a student is uncertain of what is acceptable and what fraudulent, he or she must obtain advice from the teacher or personal tutor.

Additional information and alleged misconduct in studies report form