August 18, 2022

Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Cracks Down on Contract Cheating

I In what is seen as a crackdown on errant agencies, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency in Australia has taken harsh action against commercial cheating operators, banning the top 40 websites in the country that provide contract cheating services.

Stakeholders have praised the decision given the education sector's current difficulties. Australia's Minister of Education, Jason Clare, applauded the decision, saying that "illegal cheating services threaten academic integrity and expose students to criminals, who frequently attempt to blackmail students into paying large sums of money."

In a press release, the Australian Minister for Education emphasised the collaboration between TEQSA and the Communications Alliance members in creating new protocols to block access to these websites. By streamlining the procedure for blocking illicit academic cheating websites, the protocols, according to TEQSA, make it simpler for them to enforce Australia's anti-commercial academic cheating laws."

…there appears to be a well-established ecosystem of contract cheating providers in Australia that work through websites, social media channels, and groups that are based both inside and outside of the nation…

Earlier this year, the media released in-depth analyses of the widespread problem in Australian universities as well as covert interviews with some contract cheaters. The most recent development is a welcome sign that the regulator is acting locally to address what has developed into a well-connected and institutionalised global system, so it should not come as a surprise.

"An investigation revealed that the setup was not merely random. According to a media statement, there appears to be a well-established ecosystem of contract cheating providers in Australia that work through websites, social media channels, and groups that are based both inside and outside of the nation.

The 40 websites that have now been blocked as a result of TEQSA's most recent action saw the most traffic in Australia, accumulating a monthly web footprint of about 450,000. It is estimated that one in ten students uses these platforms to hire others to complete their homework for them. TEQSA's ban was praised by industry peak bodies like Universities Australia and Independent Higher Education Australia.

TEQSA has not only banned websites but also advised all Australian higher education providers to follow the most recent academic integrity policies and procedures in a sector update that was also published.

Posted in News and tagged News, Australia, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency in Australia, TEQSA, Communications Alliance Members, Universities Australia, Independent Higher Education Australia
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