Academic Integrity

Overview

Academic integrity at North-West University (NWU) is grounded in the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. It underpins all teaching, learning, assessment, and research activities and ensures that academic work is original, ethical, and properly acknowledged. 

NWU’s Policy on Academic Integrity (updated in 2024) provides the institutional framework that guides ethical academic practice for both students and staff. The policy emphasises independent work, proper attribution of sources, responsible reuse of one’s own work, and the avoidance of misconduct in teaching, learning, and research. 

Academic Integrity in Teaching and Learning 

To support and manage academic integrity in teaching and learning, NWU uses the Academic Integrity Information Technology Systems Application (AIITSA). This platform enables academic staff to report and manage cases of academic transgressions in line with the Policy on Academic Integrity and the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). 

The AIITSA process is educational and remedial, focusing on learning, accountability, and improvement rather than punishment. 

Academic Integrity in Research 

In the research environment, academic integrity is supported through the Integrated Research Integrity Management System (IRIMS). IRIMS ensures responsible research conduct, compliance, and the protection of good research practice across the university. 

Turnitin and Academic Integrity 

NWU uses Turnitin as its Senate-approved academic misconduct detection tool. Turnitin supports academic integrity by: 

  • Generating similarity reports to help identify text matches 

  • Supporting the development of good academic writing and referencing practices 

  • Providing AI detection indicators to identify potential misuse of generative AI tools 

Turnitin reports must always be interpreted responsibly and contextually, in line with Section 6 of the Policy on Academic Integrity. The tool supports academic judgement; it does not replace it. 

Support and Assistance 

Teaching and Learning Support 

  • Academic transgressions, AIITSA, and SOP queries: AIITSA@nwu.ac.za or the NWU Academic Integrity Officer (add Yolande here) 

  • Similarity report interpretation: NWU Writing Centre (request for the contact details per campus) 

  • Academic skills development: CTL self-paced course on Academic Writing and Integrity (eFundi) 

Research Integrity Support 

  • Research integrity and compliance queries: IRIMS Office 

Resources 

For Students 

For Academic Staff