The year 2020 been an extraordinarily challenging one for South Africa and the world.

Well done on all your efforts in continuing your studies during the pandemic via the UP online learning platform.

With the online learning, however, came a number of risks for misconduct and dishonesty by some students, such as digital plagiarism and sharing of answers for online assessments.

As a proud UP student, you are a brand ambassador of the University with a moral responsibility to yourself, your fellow classmates and your families to conduct your studies with honesty and integrity, as well as to call-out any fellow students who are engaged in dishonesty.

It is important to realise that every instance of attempted fraud and dishonesty, weakens the brand value of the very degree the student is aiming to qualify with, and may have long-lasting repercussions on the employability of all our graduates, and not only of those students who have cheated.

he University IT and forensic specialists use a large variety of advanced digital tools, as well as data provided by third parties, to detect such malpractices by students.

hose specific students have been disciplined with sanctions ranging from forfeiture of credits for certain modules, expulsion from all South African Universities for a period of five years, and in some cases, criminal prosecution.

In addition, it should be noted there is no time limit applicable on disciplining students who obtained marks dishonestly or transferred to other programmes and took a deserving student’s place by means of fraud and dishonesty. In addition, at any stage, the University has a legal right to revoke any degree already awarded if the student was involved in any fraud in obtaining that degree.

Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Disciplinary Code for Students and to report any suspected student misconduct to the relevant members of Faculty management or to contact the UP Ethics Hotline on the following details:

See something – say something, anonymously if preferred:

• A toll-free telephone number: 0800 227 007
• A secure email address: [email protected]
• A free-post address: JHZ 1815, Helderkruin, 1733
• UP's Department of Internal Audit and Compliance Services can be contacted on [email protected]