61% plagiarised: how can this assignment still be happily marked by the leaders at Charles Darwin University, Australia?9904302

Storms are brewing around the world as influential people and ‘leaders’ are caught up in plagiarism and cheating scandals. But it is the hidden epidemic of plagiarism which is scary, such as what appears to occur in Darwin, Australia, most famous because of its history of Cyclone Tracy and the world famous Kakadu National Park.

At Charles Darwin University (CDU), senior staff members have stated that 61% is acceptable – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adQRgCt7ymY Others senior staff, including the head of law, have suggested that Charles Darwin University (CDU) no longer has standards, either with troubled students or in their admission procedures– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUqMB1NIS1s

So how does this compare to the approaches taken at other Australian or international universities/organisations? Let’s find out, starting with Australia: Some Australian Universities are expelling students for cheating: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/plagiarism-running-rampant-in-victorian-universities/3603894 Other organisations and shows like Media Watch are exposing plagiarism – http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3587199.htm Many Law boards are rejecting students applying for admission as lawyers where there is plagiarism, cheating or dishonesty: http://lawyerslawyer.net/2010/02/24/legal-plagiarism-cases-a-non-exhaustive-review/ Other professions are also taking a dim view. Why is it a problem for Australia?

Plagiarism puts a multi-billion dollar industry, both domestic and international, at risk http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/plagiarism-running-rampant-in-victorian-universities/3603894. Plagiarism jeopardises the reputations not only of the universities enabling or covering plagiarism and cheating up, but also universities who make agreements with those universities. This is because smaller universities have collaborations with larger universities: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI5f97BA-KQ

But plagiarism scandals are not just in Australia. They are worldwide. So, how do other nations compare when they catch people cheating or plagiarising?

And internationally, what occurs if people are caught plagiarising? You could be expelled - http://the-scan.com/2012/10/08/deakin-student-suspended-over-plagiarism/ You could lose your degree or be forced to resign, as has happened to the

Hungarian President http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17586128 and various German ministers been facing serious charges: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/10/leaked-plagiarism-report-puts-ge.html, http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/plagiarism-accusations-against-german-education-minister-published-a-860505.html and http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056525,00.html

Other European countries have seen similar problems: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18962349

America is not immune from these large storms either: http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=13413 and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-andrlik/how-plagiarism-made-ameri_b_1772782.html and in America http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2008/01/law-school-plag.html 332 1333 Neither is UK oxford graduate - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/14/plagiarism-row-jorgo-chatzimarkakis-germany Australian politicians - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/anthony-albanese-austrialia-plagiarism-the-american-president-285277

You could end up in court - NZ –http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/55680/judge-reserves-decision-in-plagiarism-case

So, if the consequences can be so disastrous with plagiarism, why can a 61% plagiarised document still be happily marked at Charles Darwin University? And if the leaders can cheat with marking, what could they be doing with the money invested in the system? The responsibility for breaches, if covered up or not tackled, must start at the top, like with problems of nepotism in admission to a degree: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/uq-nepotism-scandal-report-to-go-public-20120528-1zenm.html and http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3388176.htm and http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/elite-uni-lobby-hit-by-entry-scandal/story-e6frgcjx-1226188160212 and http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/university-of-queensland-misconduct-scandal-as-dental-school-involved-in-medicare-rort/story-e6freoof-1226498935199