Orvanta Open College
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect the integrity of Orvanta Open College’s qualifications by defining malpractice, maladministration, and plagiarism, and setting out the procedures for prevention, detection, investigation, and resolution. This policy ensures compliance with awarding body and regulatory requirements.
Scope
This policy applies to:
All learners enrolled at Orvanta Open College.
All staff, contractors, assessors, and internal quality assurers (IQAs).
All programmes and qualifications delivered through distance or blended learning.
Policy Statement
Orvanta Open College is committed to ensuring that all assessment processes are conducted with honesty, integrity, and fairness. The College will:
Take a zero-tolerance approach to malpractice, maladministration, and plagiarism.
Implement preventative measures through staff training, learner guidance, and system controls.
Investigate all suspected cases promptly, fairly, and transparently.
Report cases to awarding organisations in accordance with their requirements.
Definitions
Malpractice (Learners): Any act by a learner that compromises the integrity of the assessment process, such as plagiarism, collusion, impersonation, or use of unauthorised materials.
Malpractice (Staff): Any act by staff that compromises assessment integrity, such as falsifying records, unfairly assisting learners, or failing to follow awarding body regulations.
Maladministration: Inefficient, careless, or improper administration of processes that adversely affects assessment, certification, or quality assurance.
Plagiarism: Presenting another person’s work, ideas, or intellectual property as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement.
Responsibilities
Centre Director – has overall responsibility for malpractice and maladministration prevention and investigation.
Staff and Assessors – must follow all procedures accurately and uphold integrity in assessment and administration.
Learners – must submit only their own work and comply with academic honesty requirements.
Quality Assurance Team – responsible for monitoring compliance and reporting irregularities.
Procedures
Prevention Learners will be provided with guidance on plagiarism, referencing, and academic integrity at induction.
Staff will receive regular training in malpractice prevention and detection.
Assessment systems will include plagiarism detection software where appropriate.
Detection Suspected plagiarism will be flagged through similarity reports or assessor observation.
Irregularities in records, certification, or assessment will be investigated by the IQA or Quality Assurance Team.
Investigation Allegations will be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Team.
A formal investigation will be conducted, involving evidence collection and interviews where necessary.
Learners or staff subject to investigation will be given the opportunity to respond.
Outcomes and Sanctions Outcomes may include warnings, reassessment opportunities, or removal from a programme.
Serious cases may result in withdrawal of learner registration, staff disciplinary action, or referral to awarding organisations.
Reporting All confirmed cases will be recorded in the Malpractice and Maladministration Register.
Awarding organisations will be notified where required.
Monitoring and Review
All incidents will be reviewed annually to identify patterns and inform preventative measures.
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if awarding body requirements change.
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