Plagiarism and other forms of cheating in higher education are the focus of an academic integrity conference to be hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in November.

CSU will host the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Educational Integrity (7APCEI) from Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 November at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on the border of NSW and Victoria.

Conference co-convenor and senior lecturer in the CSU School of Psychology Dr Judith Gullifer (pictured) said the conference theme and focus is 'Crossing the borders: new frontiers for academic integrity'.

"Recent publicity about students' use of paid online services to provide university assignments has alerted all universities to the potential for cheating by contemporary students and the consequent heightened importance of academic integrity," Dr Gullifer said.

"The conference's emphasis is on 'new frontiers' because higher education and academic integrity are both at a crossroads. For example, academic integrity policies and practices are struggling to keep up with new technologies, and there has been an explosion of opportunists working in the online cheating industry. At the same time there are shifts in understanding in today's society about plagiarism, copying, and appropriation.

"The broader educational integrity of universities is itself being questioned, as particularly highlighted in recent reports regarding the recruitment of international students and the exploitation of sessional teaching staff."

The conference will include special events and will be opened by a representative of the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA). It will include a special Turnitin event hosted at La Trobe University's Wodonga campus. The 7APCEI conference also overlaps with 2015 CSU Ed Week learning and teaching conferences.

Conference keynote speakers include Dr Robert Waldersee (NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption); Associate Professor Jay Phillips (CSU School of Indigenous Australian Studies); Dr Tracey Bretag (editor of the International Journal of Educational Integrity, University of South Australia); and Dr Jason M Stephens (FutureLearn Academic Integrity MOOC, University of Auckland).

Dr Gullifer said the conference organisers have extended the opportunity for just-in-time presentation proposals to be submitted by any academics interested to share their important topic in a 20 minute presentation and discussion. Submissions can be made by contacting the conference committee on to contact@7apcei.com.

Papers at the conference will consider a range of topics that address the new frontiers of academic integrity policy and practice, including:

*    the changing landscape of academic integrity

*    challenges to quality assurance in higher education

*    risk, corruption, whistle-blowing and educational integrity

*    new educational technologies and academic integrity

*    the uncharted frontiers of academic misconduct

*    embedding academic integrity into the curriculum

*    open, distance or transnational education and academic integrity

*    real-world implications of academic integrity and the professional capabilities

*    the gaps between academic integrity and research integrity

For more information please go to www.7apcei.com or enquire to contact@7apcei.com