FOI_26-208 Academic misconduct and AI detection tools
Date of response: 24 September 2026
We have now considered your request of 01 September 2026 for the following information:
I am writing to make a formal request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, where applicable).
Please provide the following centrally held information:
Question 1. Confirmed Cases of Academic Misconduct:
The total number of confirmed cases of academic misconduct recorded across the institution for each of the following academic years:
- 2019/20
- 2020/21
- 2021/22
- 2022/23
- 2023/24
- 2024/25
- 2025/26 (please specify whether the figure provided for 2025/26 represents the complete academic year or partial/provisional data to date).
Our response:
SSDC Referrals for confirmed academic misconduct, this covers all academic General Regulations.
2019-20 = 39
2020-21= 91
2021-22 = 94
2022-23 = 66
2023-24 = 86
2024-25 = 108
2025-26 = 135 – Partial data to date
Question 2. Categorisation of Misconduct:
A breakdown of these confirmed cases by category/classification for each academic year listed above (e.g. generative AI misuse/unauthorised use, plagiarism, collusion, falsification/fabrication, contract cheating/essay mills, examination misconduct, etc.), in line with your institutional reporting classifications.
Our response:
| 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plagiarism | 146 | 106 | 186 | 196 | 245 | 219 | 275 |
| Plagiarism and Collusion | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 70 |
| Collusion | 38 | 49 | 60 | 61 | 101 | 75 | 62 |
| Contract Cheating | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 55 | 242 |
| Fraud | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No breach | 0 | 2 | 9 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exam Misconduct | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 15 |
| Total | 201 | 167 | 268 | 298 | 443 | 382 | 664 |
Question 3. AI Detection Software:
a) Does the University currently use any dedicated artificial intelligence detection tool or feature (such as the Turnitin AI writing detection tool or other third-party detector) to assist in identifying academic misconduct or screening student submissions?
If YES, please specify which one.
If NO:
Please summarise how your institution detects AI misuse without detection software.
Our response:
No. The University are not using any dedicates artificial intelligence detection tool or feature to assist in identifying academic misconduct or screening of student submissions, however we do have software for detection of plagiarism within student submissions.
b) If the University previously enabled or trialled an AI detection tool/feature but has since disabled or decommissioned it, on what date was it switched off or discontinued?
Our response:
Not applicable. The university has not previously enabled or trialled any AI detection tool/feature.
Question 4: Institutional Policy and Training on Generative AI
a) Public Policy on Generative AI Use:
Does your institution have a publicly available policy or clear guidance for students regarding the acceptable and unacceptable use of generative AI tools in assessed work?
If YES:
Please provide a link to the relevant policy/guidance document or attach a copy.
If NO:
Please state 'No publicly available policy/guidance'.
Our response:
Yes. The following are links to our Generative AI policies:
generative-ai-policy-for-teaching-and-learning.pdf
uea-generative-ai-policy-for-research-and-innovation.pdf
b) Mandatory AI-Specific Academic Integrity Training:
Does your institution provide mandatory academic integrity training/education for all students that specifically addresses the appropriate use of generative AI tools?
If YES:
In which academic years (e.g., 2022-23, 2023-24) was this mandatory training/education in place?
Our response:
No mandatory training, however, students are informed of how to appropriately use AI generative tools, as per our generative AI policy for teaching and learning.