FATIMA had her DISSERTATION used unlawfully by her professor

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TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc377453953″Introduction PAGEREF _Toc377453953 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377453954″Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc377453954 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377453955″References PAGEREF _Toc377453955 h 7

Introduction

Fatima has a mixed reaction; should she report her supervisor to the head of the department or should she forward her work having her incitation and be accused of plagiarism. Accusing her lecturer may cause her missing her graduation, whereas reporting may be her way out but also cause her to lose faith in her supervisor who may avenge for her actions. Also, being accused of plagiarism which is a serious misconduct in the school’s policy conduct will result in the university terminating her studies in the university. What appropriate action is she really going to make?

First step, she should go through her work, ensuring all the data and materials used are in accordance with the guidelines for writing a quality scientific research proposal; the field notes, data, materials, methods and techniques are relevantly included in her papers. The information written should tally with her original field notes (Smith, 2008). She forwarded copies of her work to her supervisor meaning that she have original copies of her work and not the supervisor. Having read her work which was published by her supervisor without her consent and did not include her name in the footnote she needs to take an action to defend her work and integrity as well. Attacking the supervisor would not be appropriate as he would definitely fail her in order to retain the published work as his own doing. Being in charge of the research will give the lecturer an upper hand in winning the case of a stolen work from his student. The supervisor will perfect Fatima’s work and appear as if it is his own work.

She will incriminate herself of plagiarism if she does not report the matter to the head of department. Before reporting the issue to the relevant committee, she should collect all the evidences necessary to back up her serious allegation. As well she should understand the rules and regulations governing the academic conduct as it will lead to the team to look into the matter in order to maintain the university’s academic veracity by uncovering and avoidance of plagiarism, as well, not to raise severe questions on the appropriate efficient management of the matter in question by the institution.

In all institutions of higher learning, breaching of copyright is considered a serious problem, particularly in the situation of postgraduate education in thesis writing. Brian. (1985), states that plagiarism degrades all the principles of study degree. It kills the intellectual institution. Normally, the academic senate will have the papers remarked to refrain from having any undesirable effects that the accusation may have to damage on the department and her committee advisor too.

Plagiarism is considered as unlawful act aimed in depressing the high standards in academics. Therefore, being accused of copying her supervisor’s published work will put her studies at stake since, the department will take the necessary steps in punishing her and not consider her pleas she did not report the matter before forwarding her work. Plagiarism amounts to indiscipline under the Institution’s Student Conduct Regulations. A verified plagiarized assignment is a very crucial matter that will result in severe expulsion and/or severe corrective action from the university.

Reporting her problem to the head of the department basing her accusation on the relevant evidence will be the best approach to this situation by excluding her supervisor giving head of department a chance to confidentially investigate on the problem. Fatima needs to convince the department to hold confidential hearings in order to defend her work, use valid evidence to back up all deeds, i.e. the original field notes and papers of her work that she used to send copies to her advisor, appropriate and reliable respondents, and field materials.

Classified hearings give her the courage to explain her work confidently as she will not be under the fear of being failed but now in the process of seeking the relevant authority to help in solving the matter. The head of department should give her private hearing in order to defend the honor of the investigation to obtain a clearly comprehensive understanding of what has happened, why and to enable the department to decide if it would need any public hearing. Presentation of the research evidences to the department by Fatima will give them an ample time to analyze the presented evidence carefully as they also investigate on Fatima’s supervisor defense on his published journal for approval. This is will help in analyzing all the provided evidences by both parties for the department head not to leave any important questions unsolved, together with why a supervisor would publish a student’s work without consent. As well as, why the department’s plagiarism guidelines are not followed.

Reporting her supervisor to the head of department will give her the opportunity to accuse her supervisor to have intentionally plagiarized his from her forwarded dissertation to him and published them without her consent. Since Fatima found the letter, data reports and field notes’ statements directly used from her research giving her a better and valid reason to report her supervisor for allegedly publishes them.

Wister, (2003) explains that the head of the department have the duty of effectively and properly managing and administering appropriate academic standards. The head can first seek to understand the occurrence by interviewing several witnesses brought to him as evidences, and examining the obtained related documents. The issue in concern is the investigation of her advisor’s plagiarism on her that she is yet to present that she clearly identified during her regular reading of journals related to her specialization area. This creates a fundamental concern on the behavior of the department’s officials who ignore the allegations of using their students’ research for personal gain rather than looking into such claims.

ConclusionWithin the university, head of department are needed to observe the codes of conduct amongst the employees who should meet the required standards. This will help Fatima defend her work before them courageously for a fair judgment to be made.

ReferencesSmith, RV. (2008). Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences. Plenum Press, New

York, NY, pp 292

Wister, K. (2003). Good Conduct and Administrative Practice: Guidelines for Public Authorities

And Off icial, New Castle.

Brian. N. (1985). Independent Commission against Corruption: Practical Guide to Corruption

Prevention, New Castle.