What is academic integrity? Well, there are so many definitions out there but for me, it is simply doing the right thing right as academicians. There. Simple definition. The term was coined by Don McCabe and together with his colleagues propose the 10 principles of academic integrity.
It is a paradoxical situation. With the yearly KPI and so many things that you need to fulfill (plus your own personal target to climb social ladder etc.), it is not a surprise if some academicians are resorting to “short cuts” and “manipulation”. But they are the minority. A minuscule organism in the academia.
I am not saying that we should not do anything about it and just take a stance of “wait-and-see” but it is something that not easy to be tackled. When my old Durham neighbour said that he would look into the matter of plagiarism and whatsnot carefully, it is something to be applauded.
Note: I had a bad experience of this in which a junior colleague “took” my class assignment instruction. The junior thought that it is meant to be used by everybody whereas in fact, I crafted it few years ago (after many cycles of amendment) to be used EXCLUSIVELY for my own class. This junior did this without having a pinch of remorse. No action is taken based on what this junior did even though I have evidence of this junior doing that. So, what can you say about such thing? Of course, it is neither a journal nor a published work. But still, it is my idea. Looking at the definition given by MIT , it resonates with my unique case.
McCabe also published another article about academic integrity. Please have a look at his article, HERE