UAE (University of Wollongong in Dubai) UOWD and Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE support European Network for Academic Integrity’s 2nd PhD Summer School 2022

UOWD partnered with Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE to support the European Network for Academic Integrity’s 2nd PhD Summer School this year at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey. As part of the support Dr Zeenath Reza Khan, founding president of the Centre, Program Director for Freshmen and Pathway and Assistant Professor at Engineering and Information Science faculty attended the summer school as a lecturer facilitating two lessons this year, and UOW PhD student and UOWD College Instructor Ajrina Hysaj attended the school as a PhD student.

As part of the organising sub committee, Dr Khan worked closely with chair of the committee Dr Salim Razi, Board member at ENAI and Vice Dean at COMU and Inga Gaizauskaite from Lithuania. ENAI launched the PhD Summer School in 2021 as an initiative to encourage more young researchers to study academic integrity as a discipline and to help train, educate and enhance awareness of pre and in-service teachers to build a culture of integrity in their classrooms. In 2021, the school was held over a week virtually due to the pandemic border restrictions, This year, the committee decided to organise it as a face to face offer.

COMU won the bid to host the summer school in Turkey over nine days. 10 PhD students joined from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Dr Khan’s first class was delivered in collaboration with Dr Teddi Fishman, former President of International Centre for Academic Integrity (USA) on contextual factors and how they impact academic integrity. This class helped students discuss and debate the factors that are external to classrooms but have real impact on integrity values such as globalisation, over customisation of degrees, and more.

The second class Dr Khan delivered was on the impact of Smart technology on academic integrity and related concerns. Amidst engagement, debates and pitches to sift through the glitz and glamour of the fourth industrial revolution and discuss the fundamental role technology can and should play in upholding integrity.

Dr Khan was presented with a plaque, beautiful gift and Certificate of Contribution on behalf of UOWD and the Centre from the Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Okhan Akdur at Cannakale University.

Ajrina Hysaj was also presented with a Certificate of Achievement for her contributions and participation in the summer school at the closing ceremony.