Writing a final paper poses a significant challenge for students, particularly in ensuring originality and avoiding plagiarism. As part of its commitment to academic integrity, the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), through the Career and Student Development Unit (CSDU), conducted a mandatory soft skills training session titled “Writing Skills: Anti-Plagiarism.” The event took place on the 8th floor of the FEB UGM Learning Center Building on Friday (21/2).
During the session, FEB UGM Lecturer Dea Yustisia, S.E., M.Sc. emphasized that plagiarism is a serious academic violation that occurs when someone uses another person’s ideas without proper attribution, whether intentionally or unintentionally. She also outlined the various types of plagiarism commonly encountered in the academic world.
Dea explained that plagiarism falls into three main categories: intentional, unintentional, and self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism occurs when an individual republishes their own work without citing the original source. While republishing the same work in different venues is permissible, it requires substantial modifications in either writing style or methodology.
Beyond these three main types, several other forms of plagiarism frequently occur. Literal or word-for-word plagiarism happens when text is copied verbatim without any paraphrasing. Mosaic plagiarism involves piecing together sentences from multiple sources without proper citation, creating a patchwork of borrowed content.
Another common form is inadequate paraphrasing, where minor word changes are made without properly rephrasing the original idea or citing the source. Similarly, paraphrasing without citation occurs when ideas from another source are rewritten but not credited appropriately.
A more recent form of plagiarism in the digital era is contract cheating, where students pay third parties to complete academic assignments, such as essays, reports, or exams, on their behalf. In Indonesia, this practice is widely known as “task jockeying.” Even when done without monetary exchange, this practice is still considered plagiarism, as it involves submitting someone else’s work as one’s own.
Dea also addressed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic writing. She noted that while AI tools can assist with tasks like brainstorming, translation, and grammar checks, students should not rely on AI, such as ChatGPT, to generate sources for academic writing, as these tools often produce unreliable references.
She further emphasized that all data and content derived from external sources must be properly cited to prevent plagiarism. However, common knowledge, such as widely accepted historical or scientific facts, does not require citation. For example, statements like “the sky is blue” or “Indonesia gained independence in 1945” do not necessitate source attribution.
To ensure academic integrity, Dea advised students to verify the validity of their data sources, whether primary, secondary, or tertiary. Proper documentation of sources, through citation, paraphrasing, or synthesis, is crucial to avoiding unintentional plagiarism. She also recommended using reference management tools such as Zotero and Mendeley to streamline the citation process. At FEB UGM, citation styles like APA and Chicago are commonly used, making adherence to academic formatting standards essential.
Violations of academic integrity, including plagiarism, carry serious consequences. Under UGM Rector’s Regulation No. 711 of 2013 on the UGM Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism-related offenses are subject to disciplinary actions ranging from formal reprimands and written apologies to grade cancellations, suspension from academic activities, or even expulsion.
Reporting: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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