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Just to let everyone know that the Advertising Standards Authority have said that they can do nothing as providing this service is not illegal. If the ad has not been removed I will contact TfL, and copy in the PM programme, many thanks for the info and link Regards Janette I work at SGUL Tues-Thurs Dr Janette Myers SFHEA Senior Lecturer in Student Learning and Support, Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, 6th floor Hunter Wing, St George's, University of London Cranmer Terrace London SW17 0RE 020 8725 0616 From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marieke Guy Sent: 27 April 2016 13:55 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground A link to the PM programme on Essay Mills for those interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0770qv9 Marieke From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Burton Sent: 27 April 2016 12:29 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground Colleagues It may be helpful to say that QAA is currently exploring the issue of these web sites, including whether they are subject to any regulation. We're also talking to UUK and NUS about the implications, especially in terms of how students can be better protected. We are aiming to report next month having looked at a range of sites and talked to stakeholders. In the case of the one cited - OKEssays - TfL received complaints about this and they informed the BBC that they would be removing the adverts and reviewing their policy. Listen to last Thursday's PM programme for more on this (item starts at about 40 mins into the programme) Another angle from the student perspective is if they are undertaking a professionally accredited programme, especially one which leads to or requires fitness to practise certification. The dishonesty element may result in them being deemed unfit to practise. I hope this is useful Tim Dr Tim P Burton Head of Standards, Quality and Enhancement Direct line | +44 1452 55 7159 Email | [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> The UK Quality Code for Higher Education is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk/qualitycode<http://www.qaa.ac.uk/qualitycode> From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin Sent: 27 April 2016 12:19 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground My suspicion is that using the essay would not necessarily count as fraud (universities having their own laws) but any advantage gained by it outside the university might (e.g. getting a place on a graduate training scheme, acquiring professional status etc). Either way, it's the student rather than the essay provider who is at fault. Like offshore tax schemes, immoral but not illegal... Kim ________________________________ Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support 1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE * 0118 378 4242/4614 * MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.owamail.reading.ac.uk" claiming to be www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice<https://www.owamail.reading.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?C=35c5030ec6c94da8a7ae4b6785319761&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.reading.ac.uk%2fstudyadvice> twitter: @unirdg_study Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays. ________________________________ From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of LENT Neil [[log in to unmask]] Sent: 27 April 2016 12:01 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground I guess it actually depends on what he law says and what would happen if a case were carried forward. Having had a quick look at the interweb I wonder if someone commissioned and used an essay from one of these services whether it would count as fraud by misrepresentation (Fraud Act 2006)? Cheers, Neil Dr Neil Lent SFHEA Lecturer in University Learning and Teaching Institute for Academic Development University of Edinburgh 1 Morgan Lane Edinburgh EH8 8FP Tel: 0131 651 7199 Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.ed.ac.uk/iad<http://www.ed.ac.uk/iad> To join the IAD's learning and teaching mailing list: http://edin.ac/16Wtf6s Check out the learning and teaching team blog at: http://iad4learnteach.wordpress.com/ Or follow us on twitter @iad4learnteach The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. _________________________________________ From: Louise Livesey [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 27 April 2016 11:28 To: LENT Neil <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>; [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground It all depends on whether you think plagiarism is illegal or not - I would guess there are few plagiarising students who have been accused of a crime leading to arrest, and it is students we are considering here as opposed to academic staff having their work 'stolen'? If student plagiarism is not a crime, ie Uni policies and procedures are such that students are disciplined or expelled but not arrested, then this company's services are not illegal either. That doesn't make it right, but isn't it up to the student, after being properly informed through induction, tutoring, etc, to decide if they want to take the risk? We expect students to be independent - let's educate them as to the potential issues with such a company and service, and leave them to it. Don't get me wrong - I don't like it either, but there's lots of ads and company practices I consider immoral without them being illegal - business is business. Louise Louise Livesey HE Academy Associate Fellow Steering Group Member ALDinHE Academic Skills Adviser Academic Skills Advice University of Bradford BD7 1DP Phone: 01274 233692 Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Web: www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-skills<http://www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-skills> From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LENT Neil Sent: 27 April 2016 11:14 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground I too have just looked at their site. I presume the blatant nature of their advertising indicates that this practice is lawful? Cheers, Neil Dr Neil Lent SFHEA Lecturer in University Learning and Teaching Institute for Academic Development University of Edinburgh 1 Morgan Lane Edinburgh EH8 8FP Tel: 0131 651 7199 Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.ed.ac.uk/iad<http://www.ed.ac.uk/iad> To join the IAD's learning and teaching mailing list: http://edin.ac/16Wtf6s Check out the learning and teaching team blog at: http://iad4learnteach.wordpress.com/ Or follow us on twitter @iad4learnteach The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. _________________________________________ From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin Sent: 27 April 2016 11:09 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground Wow. Just looked at OKEssay's website. I was going to say that it's quite difficult to get a complaint to stick against these people because they usually claim that they're just providing models for students to learn from and they expressly say that students should not submit other people's work as their own. But OKEssay are quite astonishingly blatant about their purpose. Scary stuff. Kim ________________________________ Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support 1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE * 0118 378 4242/4614 * MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.owamail.reading.ac.uk" claiming to be www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice<https://www.owamail.reading.ac.uk/owa/redir.aspx?C=35c5030ec6c94da8a7ae4b6785319761&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.reading.ac.uk%2fstudyadvice> twitter: @unirdg_study Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays. ________________________________ From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Heather Campbell [[log in to unmask]] Sent: 27 April 2016 10:02 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground Hi Janette, There is an advert for OKessay at Stepney Green tube station and I know that there has been talk on twitter among QMUL colleagues about putting in a complaint to ASA. Seems like OKessay are targeting stations near universities. Best wishes, Heather Dr Heather Campbell Learning Development Assistant Learning Development, Student Services Directorate Mile End Library Queen Mary, University of London Mile End Road, London E1 4NS Tel: 020 7882 3778 Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.learningdevelopment.qmul.ac.uk<http://www.learningdevelopment.qmul.ac.uk/> | www.thinkingwriting.qmul.ac.uk<http://www.thinkingwriting.qmul.ac.uk/> [twitter-2]@QMULLD<https://twitter.com/QMULLD> [facebook] qmul.learning.development<https://www.facebook.com/qmul.learning.development/> From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janette Myers Sent: 27 April 2016 09:52 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground Dear All I've been really shocked to see an essay mill, OKessay.co.uk officially advertising on posters on the London Underground. We all know it happens and have seen fly posters, but this seems to say it's an acceptable thing to do. I got a photo of one today at South Kensington and intend to report it to the Advertising Standards Authority, they are near universities, there's one at Euston, so if you work at a London HEI have a look at your nearest station. I know they measure the number of complaints, so wondered if anyone else wanted to make a separate one, citing the one at South Kensington, this is the link https://www.asa.org.uk/Consumers/How-to-complain.aspx and whether ALDinHE could complain as an association which would carry more weight? Regards Janette I work at SGUL Tues-Thurs Dr Janette Myers SFHEA Senior Lecturer in Student Learning and Support, Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, 6th floor Hunter Wing, St George's, University of London Cranmer Terrace London SW17 0RE 020 8725 0616 [Image removed by sender.] ********** Keep up to date with the work of QAA: Read the latest news from QAA: www.qaa.ac.uk/newsroom<http://www.qaa.ac.uk/newsroom> Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/qaatweets Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-quality-assurance-agency-for-higher-education Watch us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/qaatube See our photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78322307@N08/ ********** If you receive this message in error, please inform the sender and delete the message. All contents have been scanned by QAA, although this is not a guarantee that they are virus free. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education is a company limited by guarantee. 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