• Join us for the first TEQSA Talks webinar

    We've established a new webinar series to help inform the sector about our regulatory work, quality assurance matters and sector risk. The TEQSA Talks webinars will also provide opportunities for providers and other stakeholders to ask questions of us.

    The first TEQSA Talks webinar will be held on Wednesday 17 April 2024, from 2-3pm (AEST). Registration to attend is essential.

    Register now

    Visit TEQSA Talks for more information.


     

     

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  • Sector alert: Changes in commercial academic cheating service activities in 2024

    TEQSA has both observed and received reports about changes in the behaviour of commercial academic cheating services that target students studying for an Australian higher education award. The reports suggest operators of these services are being more aggressive and direct in their promotional activities and are more frequently targeting users of their service for blackmail or identity theft.

    Background

    Amendments to the TEQSA Act in September 2020 made it illegal to provide or advertise a commercial academic cheating service in Australia. Since then, TEQSA’s work to block illegal cheating websites and remove social media accounts and posts that advertise these services, have disrupted the business of commercial academic cheating services. These actions, as well as the increasing sophistication and availability of generative artificial intelligence services (such as ChatGPT), may be driving the changes in behaviour.

    In particular, TEQSA has observed a substantial reduction in internet traffic to websites offering contract cheating services and an increase in reports of students being approached directly through individual email messages or via class groups set up in messaging apps or on social media platforms.

    Research shows contract cheating firms are commonly controlled by criminal syndicates, putting students who use these services at very real risk of blackmail or identity theft.

    Blackmail activities can include demands for further payment, class materials or past assessment tasks, contact details of other students, or access to provider systems (such as the Learning Management System or the student’s email account).

    Students who share personal information with commercial academic cheating services, such as their name and payment details, are at risk of identity theft. Additionally, students disclosing login details to a provider’s system present a cyber security risk that institutions need to be aware of and mitigate.

    Provider actions

    TEQSA appreciates that Australian higher education providers have been proactive in addressing risks to academic integrity by engaging in a range of activities to educate students, detect cheating and upskill staff.

    Due to the increasingly aggressive marketing and blackmail tactics used by illegal academic cheating services, TEQSA encourages all providers to ensure:

    • The risks associated with using academic cheating services are clearly and regularly communicated to students as part of ongoing discussions about academic integrity.
    • Students are aware of how to access genuine study support, report an approach from a contract cheating service or get assistance if, for example, they are experiencing blackmail.
    • Students and staff are made aware of the potential for class groups on messaging and social media platforms to be infiltrated by contract cheating services.
    • Students and staff are regularly reminded of their obligation to not disclose university system passwords to anyone, and that genuine, ethical businesses will not request this information.
    • IT systems are monitored for suspicious activity, and spam filters and other tools are updated to quarantine emails to students that advertise illegal cheating services.
    • Consideration is given to reissuing the login credentials for students that have had a finding of contract cheating upheld.
    • All staff with responsibilities for assessment, investigation or decision making regarding alleged academic misconduct or the design or administration of student misconduct policies receive training in contract cheating detection and deterrence. TEQSA’s self-directed online course, Masterclass: contract cheating detection and deterrence is available to all academic and professional staff of Australian higher education providers.
    • Posters, business cards and other material posted or left on campus promoting commercial academic cheating services are promptly removed.
    • Any information or evidence relating to a commercial academic cheating service targeting your institution, or being used by students at your institution, is shared with TEQSA. You can lodge a report via our website.

    Additional resources

    Please bookmark TEQSA's Protecting academic integrity page for a full and up-to-date listing of academic integrity materials for providers.

    Information about Australia’s anti-commercial academic cheating laws

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  • Sector alert: Changes in activities of commercial academic cheating services

    TEQSA has today alerted all Australian higher education institutions to changes observed in the behaviour of commercial academic cheating services. Reports and observations suggest operators are becoming more aggressive in their promotional activities and are more frequently targeting the students who use their services for blackmail and identity theft.

    TEQSA has written to registered providers outlining the observed behaviour of cheating services and highlighting the actions institutions should take to mitigate the risk to students, staff and academic integrity.

    Higher Education Integrity Unit Director Dr Helen Gniel said: "We know that higher education providers take these risks seriously and have been proactive in responding by working to educate students, detect cheating and upskill staff. We appreciate the sector’s ongoing commitment to meet the challenges of this evolving threat."

    Amendments to the TEQSA Act in September 2020 made it illegal to provide or advertise a commercial academic cheating service in Australia. The new laws also empowered TEQSA to take action to disrupt access to illegal websites targeting students at Australian institutions.

    As of April 2024, TEQSA has disrupted almost 290 illegal cheating websites and had 841 social media accounts, posts or adverts providing or advertising illegal cheating services removed.

    Last year, we also launched an online course, Masterclass: contract cheating detection and deterrence. This course is available free to academic and professional staff at Australian higher education providers and to date has received 3098 registered users.

    Dr Gniel said a range of resources for students, including in languages other than English, and the sector continue to be updated on TEQSA’s website.

    "TEQSA is leading Australia’s regulatory and educative approach to prevent, detect and respond to commercial academic cheating services that threaten the integrity of Australian higher education."

    Media enquiries

    comms@teqsa.gov.au, 0437 143 012

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  • Past TEQSA event recordings and presentations

    On this page you will find recordings of our presentations from previous events and podcasts.

    See our TEQSA Conference page for recordings from previous TEQSA Conferences.

    Please use our online form to request a speaker from TEQSA.
     

    2024

    Request for information: AI risk mitigation webinar – for higher education providers (21 March 2024)

    The webinar provided an opportunity for higher education providers to find out more about the process for the request for information and ask TEQSA any questions.

    2023

    Generative artificial intelligence for higher education webinar series

    TEQSA, in association with Deakin University, produced this series of webinars which address what is known at present about generative AI, implications for learning, teaching and assessment and how such technologies might transform higher education into the future.

    2021

    Podcast October 2021: Successful injunction of a commercial academic cheating website

    Higher Education Integrity Unit Director, Dr Helen Gniel, explains more about the injunction process and how it fits into TEQSA’s ongoing work.

    Webinar 28 September 2021: TEQSA and the Fair Work Ombudsman

    This webinar features TEQSA Chief Commissioner, Peter Coaldrake, and Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), Sandra Parker, discussing the importance of workplace practices which comply with the sector’s industrial obligations.

    Podcast April 2021: Commercial academic cheating

    In this podcast, we chat with Dr Helen Gniel, Director of TEQSA’s Higher Education Integrity Unit, about commercial academic cheating – sometimes also called ‘contract cheating’ – and why it threatens academic integrity.

    Podcast March 2021: Introducing the Higher Education Integrity Unit

    Dr Helen Gniel, Director of the newly established Higher Education Integrity Unit, outlines the purpose of the unit and its early areas of focus.

    Quality Assurance Webinar Series

    The Quality Assurance Webinar Series (QAWS) shared higher education quality assurance and regulatory information with quality managers within providers, industry and professional accrediting bodies.

    QAWS #4, 10 June 2021: Provider Category Standards

    QAWS # 3, 29 April 2021: The role of external experts

    QAWS #2, 17 February 2021: Achieving self-accreditation

    QAWS #1, 8 December 2020: Scholarship

    2020

    Webinar October 2020: Academic integrity toolkit launch

    Podcast: Academic integrity

    Dr Guy Curtis from the University of Western Australia discusses TEQSA’s Academic Integrity Toolkit, and also looks at how educators and providers can support academic integrity regardless of whether learning is online or in a classroom (recorded on 17 June 2020).

    Webinar series: Going online: R(e)imagining teaching and learning

    TEQSA, in collaboration with RMIT, produced a weekly webinar series in May and June 2020 discussing online learning.

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    Related links

  • Strong ties with QQI a win for academic integrity

    TEQSA and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) have strengthened their close relationship by signing a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU). This significant step reaffirms a long-term commitment by both agencies to work together united as equal partners to combat commercial academic cheating.

    Since joining forces, among many achievements, TEQSA and QQI have established the Global Academic Integrity Network (GAIN) to unite changemakers across the world in the name of academic integrity. 

    The MoU, signed and discussed at a recent online meeting of both agencies, commits TEQSA and QQI to the principles of cross-border higher education. They will also work to implement the related recommendations in the UNESCO guidelines for quality assurance in cross-border higher education.

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  • Statement: Publication of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s report into current and proposed sexual consent laws

    TEQSA Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Mary Russell said:

    “TEQSA welcomes the publication of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s report into current and proposed sexual consent laws.

    “This report brings into clear focus the lived experience and trauma of students who have experienced sexual harm. Many feel that higher education providers and the regulator have failed them when they have asked for help. We acknowledge the commitment and courage of those who shared their stories to help improve things for all students.

    “TEQSA is committed to playing its part in the Government’s work to strengthen prevention and responses to sexual harm. We agree that there is much more work to be done and will continue to engage with students, experts, advocates and higher education providers to help make higher education a safer place. 

    “We also acknowledge that more significant progress is needed. That’s why we’re working to improve our regulatory response to the risks and responses to sexual harm across higher education, with a view to having stronger measures in place in time for the start of classes in 2024. We are also continuing our work to make sure our responses to those who raise complaints with TEQSA are trauma informed.

    “We understand that publication of this report may cause distress to some higher education students and staff. TEQSA calls on all higher education providers to ensure details of their support services are accessible and promoted to students. We expect all providers to be clear and unambiguous in their commitment to making progress on these issues and supporting students who have experienced harm. 

    “Anyone who is experiencing distress should contact the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service 1800RESPECT by calling 1800 737 732 or visiting 1800RESPECT.org.au to access online support.”

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    Statement from our Acting Chief Executive Officer.

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  • Identifying, avoiding and reporting illegal cheating services (Filipino) – Pagtukoy, pag-iwas sa at pag-report ng mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya

    Nagbabanta sa pang-akademikong integridad ang mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya, at inilalantad nila ang mga estudyante sa mga kriminal. Ipinapakita ng pananaliksik1 na ang mga operator ng mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya na ito ay magbabanta na ipaalam sa unibersidad o tagapag-empleyo ng estudyante sa hinaharap ang tungkol sa pandaraya ng isang estudyante kung hindi magbayad ang estudyante ng malaking halaga ng pera.

    Ipinagbawal ng Australia ang mga pangkomersyong serbisyo na ito sa pandaraya at ang pag-promote ng mga serbisyong ito sa mga estudyante. Kabilang sa mga batas laban sa mga pangkomersyong serbisyo sa pandaraya ang mga kriminal na parusa tulad ng mga multa na hanggang $100,000 para sa mga operator. Nahaharap din sa sibil na pag-uusig ang mga taong nagkakaloob ng mga serbisyo sa pandaraya nang libre. Hindi pinaparusahan ng mga batas na ito ang mga estudyanteng gumagamit ng mga serbisyong ito para mandaya ngunit patuloy na malalapat ang mga patakaran sa pang-institusyong pagdidisiplina.

    Nagbuo ang TEQSA ng sumusunod na impormasyon upang tulungan ang mga estudyante na matukoy, maiwasan at ma-report ang mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya. Nilalayon nitong makadagdag, at hindi palitan, ang anumang payo na maaaring natanggap mo mula sa inyong institusyon.

    Pagtukoy ng serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya

    Identify icon

    Maaaring kabilang sa pangkomersyong serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya ang mga website at indibidwal o grupo na nagma-market o nagkakaloob ng mga serbisyo sa pandaraya sa mga estudyante.

    Ang mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya – na minsang tinatawag ding contract cheating services – ay nagbebenta ng mga sanaysay o takdang-aralin ng mga estudyante, o tumatanggap ng bayad para ibang tao ang kukuha ng exam para sa estudyante.

    Kadalasan, mina-market ang mga serbisyong ito bilang alok ng ‘suporta sa pag-aaral’. Hihilingin sa mga estudyante ng marami sa mga ilegal na operator na ito na i-upload ang kanilang dating gawa o materyal mula sa kanilang kurso para ma-access ang ina-advertise na ‘suporta’.

    Ang ilan sa mga ilegal na serbisyong ito ay nagma-market nang agresibo sa pamamagitan ng social media, email at sa campus. Maaari ka rin nilang mahanap sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga post sa social media. Halimbawa, maaaring mag-post sa social media ang isang estudyante tungkol sa isang sanaysay na sinusulat niya at pagkatapos ay makakatanggap ng maraming ‘bot’ message na nag-aalok ng pangkomersyong serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya.

    Pag-iwas sa mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya

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    Ang pagtukoy sa mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya ay minsang mahirap pero dapat mong laging iwasan ang anumang serbisyo na:

    • nangangakong tutulong na isulat o paghusayin ang iyong sanaysay o takdang-aralin o kukuha ng exam para sa iyo kapalit ng pera
    • nag-aalok ng hindi hinihinging ‘suporta sa pag-aaral’ sa pamamagitan ng social media, email o on-campus advertising
    • humihiling sa iyong mag-upload ng dating halimbawa ng iyong gawa, o mga materyales mula sa iyong kurso, upang makatanggap ng tulong
    • nag-aalok na magbenta sa iyo ng mga study notes, exam o iba pang materyales para sa assessment.

    Ang mga estudyanteng nakakaranas ng kahirapan sa pag-aaral ay dapat laging makipag-usap sa kanilang tutor o course coordinator. Matutulungan ka nilang ma-access ang mga opsyon sa suporta sa pag-aaral at maprotektahan din ang iyong pang-akademikong integridad.

    Mga tip

    Tip: Makakatulong sa iyo ang pag-block ng mga hindi hinihinging mga mensaheng natatanggap sa social media o email na nag-aalok ng suporta sa pag-aaral, pagsulat ng sanaysay o iba pang contract cheating services upang maiwasan ang mga ilegal na serbisyo sa pandaraya at mapanatili ang iyong pang-akademikong integridad.

    Mag-ingat sa impormasyong ibinabahagi mo sa mga social media network at pag-isipan ang iyong mga setting sa privacy. Makakatulong ito sa iyo na maiwasang ma-target ng mga operator ng serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya.

     

    Pag-report ng mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya

    Reporting icon

    Nagtutulungan ang TEQSA at mga tagapagkaloob (providers) ng mas mataas na edukasyon sa Australia upang magbahagi ng nalalaman nila tungkol sa mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya. Sinusuportahan nito ang mga institusyon na protektahan ang mga interes ng mga estudyante at pang-akademikong integridad sa pamamagitan ng pagtiyak na ligtas ang kanilang mga network laban sa mga ilegal na serbisyo.

    Saan magre-report ng pinaghihinalaang pangkomersyong serbisyo sa pandaraya

    Sa iyong tagapagkaloob

    Kung makatanggap ka ng email na nagpo-promote ng pinaghihinalaang mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya sa pamamagitan ng iyong email account sa inyong institusyon, o kung makakita ka ng pinaghihinalaang site ng pandaraya sa network ng inyong institusyon, i-report ito sa inyong paaralan o unibersidad. Dapat mo ring ipaalam sa kanila kung nakakita ka ng mga poster, abiso o business card sa inyong campus na nagpo-promote ng mga serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya.

    Sa TEQSA

    Kung naka-enkuwentro ka ng pinaghihinalaang serbisyo sa ilegal na pandaraya, maaari mo itong i-report sa pamamagitan ng pagkumpleto ng aming online form.

    Mga Tala

    1. Yorke, J., Sefcik, L., & Veeran-Colton, T. (2020). Contract cheating and blackmail: a risky business? Studies in Higher Education.

    Bumalik sa landing page ng Pag-unawa sa Pang-akademikong Integridad

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  • Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence

    Body

    The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI), while creating new possibilities for learning and teaching, has exacerbated existing assessment challenges within higher education. However, there is considerable expertise, based on evidence, theory and practice, about how to design assessment for a digital world, which includes artificial intelligence. AI is not new, after all, even if the current iterations of generative AI are. This document, constructed through expert collaboration, draws on this body of knowledge and outlines directions for the future of assessment. It seeks to provide guidance for the sector on ways assessment practices can take advantage of the opportunities, and manage the risks, of AI, specifically generative AI.

    Stakeholder
    Publication type

    Related links

  • Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence – feedback invited

    In consultation with leading Australian experts, TEQSA has supported the development and launch of proposed guiding principles and propositions (Assessment Reform Guiding Principles) for assessment reform in the age of artificial intelligence.

    The discussion paper, Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence, seeks to support staff and institutions to reflect on the integrity of their assessment regimes and opportunities for incorporating generative artificial intelligence (genAI) into their educational programs. It was launched at a one-hour webinar on 28 September.

    GenAI’s arrival and rapid enhancement presents challenges to the integrity of many traditional assessment tasks. To support the sector in meeting this challenge, the Assessment Reform Guiding Principles capture the essence of considerations required to reform assessment to manage both risks and opportunities. The Assessment Reform Guiding Principles draw on the combined guidance of experts in artificial intelligence, assessment design and academic integrity in higher education in Australia.

    TEQSA is now inviting feedback on the discussion paper, including the guiding principles and propositions.

    Further details about the consultation

    The consultation closes at 5pm (AEDT) on Friday 20 October.

    In late November, following the consultation, the final Assessment Reform Guiding Principles will be launched as part of the annual TEQSA Conference.

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