In a bold move to uphold academic integrity, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has sanctioned 13 first-year students for committing various examination malpractice offences during the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. This decision, taken by the Examination Committee at its meeting held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, sends a strong signal that the institution will not compromise its standards.

What Happened?

The sanctioned students were caught engaging in unauthorized communication, collusion, using prohibited materials (including mobile phones and prepared notes), and in some cases, even swapping question papers. The affected courses spanned critical academic areas including Information Technology, French, Criminal Law, and Business Management.

Summary of Offences and Sanctions:

– 13 students penalized
– 8 different courses involved
– 6 types of offences committed
– 5 levels of disciplinary sanctions applied

A Deeper Look at the Offences

Most Common Offences:

Communicating with others during exams – 5 cases (Section 4.4(c))
• Taking prohibited materials into exam halls – 4 cases (Section 4.4(b))
• Copying from mobile phones or notes – 2 cases (Section 4.4(i))
• Collusion – 1 case (Section 4.4(a))
• Swapping question papers – 1 case (Section 4.4(h))

Affected Courses

BGEC107: Introduction to Information Technology – 3 students
• BGEC109: French Language – 3 students
• DIPC005: Business Mathematics – 2 students
• DIPC003: Business Management – 2 students
• PBPR101: Introduction to Mass Communication – 1 student
• BLAW105: Criminal Law – 1 student
• BGEC113: Environmental Management – 1 student

⚖️ Types of Sanctions Imposed

Grade Z (exam paper cancellation) – 13 students
• Rustication (2 semesters) – 4 students
• Dismissal from the university – 3 students
• GHS 100 fines for phone retrieval – 3 students

Patterns and Red Flags

Similar ID numbers suggest possible group collusion
• Repeat offences in specific subjects indicate high-stress or high-risk areas
• Mobile phones remain a common malpractice tool, showing poor exam security compliance

What This Means for Stakeholders

For Students:
– Ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
– UPSA expects high levels of honesty and responsibility.

For Educators & Invigilators:
– Tighter supervision and awareness needed.
– Orientation on academic integrity must be intensified.

For the University:
– The enforcement of sanctions is commendable.
– Proactive student education is needed to reduce first-year offences.

Recommendations Moving Forward

Mandatory Academic Integrity Training for all freshmen.
2. Tech-free exam zones with strict mobile phone checks.
3. Reinforced invigilator training.
4. Peer accountability through honor codes.
5. Risk audits for courses with recurrent malpractice cases.

Final Thoughts

The UPSA case is a wake-up call for all higher education institutions in Ghana. It underscores the urgent need to blend discipline with proactive student education. Academic honesty must be non-negotiable for Ghana to nurture globally competitive graduates.

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