Integrity Policy

Introduction: This policy aims to emphasize the importance of all beneficiaries of the services provided by the Business Competencies Training Institute adhering to integrity in the e-learning environment. It outlines the forms of integrity violations, the procedures and penalties enforced by the Institute in case of such violations, and measures to prevent their occurrence.

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Definition of Integrity and Its Importance

• Integrity is a fundamental requirement in all interactions within the Institute, underscoring the significance of honesty and trustworthiness for every individual in the e-learning environment, including trainers, trainees, and administrators.
• Integrity is an ethical framework that governs the conduct of trainers, trainees, and all staff members, providing them with principles and guidelines to regulate their behavior.
• Integrity encompasses addressing any actions that infringe upon the rights of others or contribute to presenting misleading information or inauthentic work, such as:
  • Cheating in examinations.
  • Plagiarism of research.
  • Submitting projects that are not the trainee’s own work.
  • Manipulating results.
  • Bias.
  • Forging documents or circumventing regulations.

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Forms of Integrity Violations

Examples include, but are not limited to:

1. Impersonating another person to take an exam on their behalf or conspiring with someone to do so.
2. Engaging in any behavior that negatively impacts the conduct of an exam, whether with the intent to cheat or for any other reason.
3. Displaying inappropriate behavior toward peers or exam supervisors.
4. Obtaining or attempting to obtain exam questions prior to the start of the exam by any means.
5. Accessing or attempting to access exam questions and answering them before the supervisor authorizes the start of the exam, or answering questions after the allocated time has ended.
6. Committing any form of cheating during an exam, such as:
   • Unauthorized communication with others (not permitted by the exam supervisor).
   • Accessing or attempting to access any information sources, whether paper-based or electronic (e.g., books, notes) during the exam.
   • Disclosing or attempting to disclose exam questions or answers to another trainee.
   • Assisting or attempting to assist another trainee in cheating during an exam.
7. Attempting to use unauthorized materials, devices, or tools during an exam (e.g., mobile phones, recording devices, or notes related to the exam subject).
8. Photographing or extracting exam questions by any means.
9. Failing to comply with exam instructions or the supervisor’s directives related to exam procedures, such as refusing to enable the personal camera during the exam or continuing a prohibited behavior after being warned by the supervisor.

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Procedures and Penalties for Integrity Violations

Penalties

In the event of any violation of exam regulations, one or more of the following penalties may be imposed:

1. Issuing a warning prohibiting the trainee from taking the exam.
2. Declaring the trainee as having failed some or all exam subjects.
3. Canceling the trainee’s previous exam results.
4. Barring the trainee from taking exams for one or more sessions, with a maximum ban of one year.
5. This clause is an integral part of the integrity regulations, and additional clauses may be appended to this document.

Investigation and Penalty Procedures

The following procedures are followed for investigating and imposing penalties:

1. If the violation involves cheating or pertains to exam procedures:
   • The exam supervisor prepares a report documenting the details of the violation.
   • The supervisor requests written statements from the violator(s) and any witnesses.
   • The report is signed by the supervisor and the exam oversight team, and it is submitted to the head of the Exam Committee within four working days from the date of the violation.
2. The Exam Committee investigates the violation, prepares an investigation report, and submits its recommendations regarding the validity of the violation and the appropriate penalty to the Exam Committee.
3. If the violation is confirmed, the Exam Committee forwards the investigation findings, recommendations, and supporting evidence to the relevant administration.
4. The relevant administration issues the penalty decision. If the decision becomes final, the violator is notified of the violation committed and the penalty imposed.

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Scope of Policy Application

• This policy applies to all beneficiaries of the services provided by the Business Competencies Training Institute.
• The Institute is committed to enforcing this policy, and all staff members are obligated to comply with it.
• Any violation of this policy subjects the offender to disciplinary action in accordance with the procedures followed by the Business Competencies Training Institute.