RTAP Submissions, Plagiarism, and Academic Integrity
Why is a Dissertation so Important?
A dissertation is more than just an academic requirement; it is a showcase of your individual work, critical thinking, and intellectual contribution. It also demonstrates your honesty and ethical behaviour—core values that are essential for a successful career in finance and business.
Here’s why a dissertation holds such significance:
- Builds Reputation: It highlights your credibility as a researcher and professional.
- Upholds Institutional Integrity: It reflects the prestige of the academic institution you belong to.
- Lifelong Impact: As an alumnus, the institution’s reputation remains tied to you.
Each institution has policies on plagiarism to ensure academic integrity, originality, and ethical research practices.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or intellectual property as your own without proper acknowledgment. This includes:
- Copying text, data, or ideas without citation.
- Reusing significant portions of your own previous submissions without permission (self-plagiarism).
- Paraphrasing without proper attribution.
It’s important to note that institutions often use internal libraries of student submissions for plagiarism checks. These libraries maintain high academic standards by comparing your work not only against external tools but also previous submissions.
Internal Libraries: Ensuring Originality and Fairness
All RTAP submissions are subject to internal comparisons within the institution’s library. This process identifies overlapping content, both intentional and unintentional, ensuring fairness and upholding academic standards.
Guidelines for Students:
- Cite Properly: Include references for both external and internal works.
- Seek Advice: Consult with advisors for clarity on reusing content.
- Utilise Resources: Attend workshops and use available resources for academic writing and citation practices.
Why is This Process So Important?
- Upholds Academic Integrity: Reflects your personal values and ethical standards.
- Advances Knowledge: Prevents stagnation by encouraging original ideas.
- Ensures Fairness: Recognises merit-based achievements.
- Develops Skills: Promotes independent research and problem-solving.
- Protects Intellectual Property: Respects the effort of original creators.
- Avoids Consequences: Prevents penalties, reputational damage, and missed opportunities.
Why Can’t You Access Internal Comparisons?
Institutions maintain confidentiality regarding internal comparisons to protect intellectual property and ensure ethical practices. Here’s why access is restricted:
- Privacy and Confidentiality: Protects the intellectual property of other students.
- Ethical Considerations: Prevents misuse of others’ work.
- Integrity of the Process: Ensures original and unbiased submissions.
- Intellectual Property Rights: Submissions are protected under copyright laws.
- Focus on Growth: Encourages improvement in your research and writing skills.
- Institutional Standards: Upholds fairness and impartiality.
By keeping these libraries confidential, institutions maintain their reputation as impartial evaluators.
In Closing
Plagiarism checks are not punitive measures—they are tools to help you uphold the values of honesty, creativity, and responsibility. A dissertation is more than just an assignment; it is a craft, an opportunity to showcase your originality, critical thinking, and mastery of research.
Key Takeaways:
- Invest time in thoughtful analysis.
- Reference robustly.
- Develop your unique voice.
When you look back, you will see how much you’ve grown intellectually while maintaining high levels of integrity. This effort will set you apart from others and serve as a solid foundation for your career and future ambitions.
