– It is a matter between the student and us. If it’s going to get out, it’s the student who has to let it go, says Nord rector Hanne Elenora Solheim Hansen to news. The headmaster believes this was also the case in Sandra Borch’s case. In other words, she went out with it herself. Kjerkol will publish the conclusion to Nord University Nord University, which received Kjerkol’s master’s thesis in 2021, is working to investigate textual similarities following several plagiarism allegations. Although the university will not publish its conclusion, Kjerkol tells news that she will publish the conclusion. – It would be natural for Nord University’s conclusion to be made public, for my part, says Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) to news. 77 examples of text similarities More than 77 examples of text similarities have been found in the Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol’s master’s thesis. When Nord University’s conclusion is ready, it will not be made public either, according to a recent chronicle that the Nord Rector has written together with Dean Elisabet Ljunggren at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Read the full article here No, Nord University will not decide whether the minister has confidence Authors of the article: Rector Hanne Solheim Hansen and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Elisabet Ljunggren, Nord University. In the media debate surrounding the allegations of plagiarism in the master’s thesis of Ingvild Kjerkol and a fellow student, there have been claims that Nord University will decide Kjerkol’s fate as a minister. It is claimed that the prime minister has left it up to Nord University to assess whether Kjerkol has confidence, and many seem to be waiting anxiously for what the university will conclude. But of course it is not like that. Nord University shall in no way assess whether Kjerkol can continue as minister. Those who are waiting for us to say something about it can therefore already prepare to be disappointed. Nor will Nord University say anything about cheating in the assignment in question. On the contrary. At Nord University, this is a student matter. It is, like all student matters, except public, in line with the privacy rules and administrative legislation. Nord therefore only has the opportunity to inform those affected in the case. It includes neither the media nor the Prime Minister. At Nord University, this case is about the following: The university has received a notification about possible plagiarism in a master’s thesis that two students have submitted to and had censored at the university as part of a master’s program. We have taken the message seriously, and have decided to investigate the matter further. We do this by following normal procedures for case management, in line with current legislation. As has been pointed out by several, text similarity is not necessarily cheating. When text similarity has been discovered, people with relevant professional expertise must therefore assess the text similarities. How one assesses whether text similarity is cheating has previously been well described, among others, by Liv Ingunn Bråten at OsloMet. In this specific case, a committee has been set up consisting of an internal and an external professional who has expertise in the relevant subject area, but who has not previously been involved with the assignment or its censorship, as we use to deal with appeals at examinations. Nord University has previously described what happens if the committee were to conclude that there may be cheating. In line with good practice, the process will mean that the students are given the opportunity to explain themselves, that decisions are made in Nemda for student affairs, which deals with all cases where there is suspicion of cheating. Decisions can be appealed to a joint national appeals board. The fact that the process can take time is due to thorough case management where the students’ legal security is safeguarded, including the right to appeal, not because Nord University works particularly slowly. When the occasional professor states in the media that they have not heard of Nemda for student affairs, it must be because they are uninformed. All Norwegian universities must have such a body. It is a requirement in the Universities and Colleges Act. Nord University is concerned with the students’ legal security. We want to uncover when students have cheated on an exam because the exam is supposed to document what the students have learned. A diploma must give a picture of the candidate’s level of knowledge. It is also an important legal principle that people are innocent until proven guilty. It is therefore crucial to ensure students’ legal certainty in the event of suspicion of plagiarism. We must strive to ensure that we do not judge students for cheating unless we are sure that it is cheating. We hope that the debate surrounding the plagiarism cases that are currently being dealt with can result in a wider dialogue in the sector about how the work to prevent cheating can best be done, while at the same time taking care of the students. The University and College Council (UHR) has been working on this problem over time, and Nord University has taken the initiative towards the sector in order to get experience shared across all the institutions. We look forward to participating in the further dialogue. With the title “No, Nord University will not decide whether the minister has confidence”, they comment on the media debate in the wake of the allegations of plagiarism in the master’s thesis of Ingvild Kjerkol and a fellow student. – There have been allegations that Nord University will decide Kjerkol’s fate as a minister. It is claimed that the prime minister has left it up to Nord University to assess whether Kjerkol has confidence, and many seem to be waiting anxiously for what the university will conclude. But of course it is not like that, chronicle writers open. – In this situation, Ingvild Kjerkol is a student with us, and she has a legal certainty that we must protect well, says headmaster Hanne Solheim Hansen. Photo: Nord universitet Nord universitet shall in no way assess whether Kjerkol can continue as minister, they state. Many will be disappointed – Those who are waiting for us to say something about it, can therefore already prepare to be disappointed. Nor will Nord University say anything about cheating in the assignment in question. On the contrary. At Nord University, this is a student matter, write Solheim and Ljunggren. Facts about the Kjerkol case On Saturday, news and VG discussed several textual similarities between Kjerkol and a fellow student’s master’s thesis from 2021 and previous assignments. The case came to light after Sandra Borch resigned as minister following several cases of plagiarism in her master’s thesis. The Minister of Health herself has said that she has not copied, but on Sunday evening she replied that an editing error meant that some wording was left behind. Nord University has today started processing the accusations of plagiarism in the master’s thesis for the Minister of Health. It is unclear when the result will be ready. The Kjerkol case is treated in the same way as all other student cases, and that the proceedings are exempt from public disclosure. At a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that he still has confidence in Kjerkol in the wake of the case. Source: NTB They emphasize that this case will remain exempt from public disclosure, in line with the privacy rules and administrative legislation. – Nord therefore only has the opportunity to inform those affected in the case. It includes neither the media nor the Prime Minister. – Why are you going out with this in a chronicle? – We could certainly have chosen other forms, but it was to get a coherent text and not just facts, says the rector to news. – Even if they do not directly decide Kjerkol’s fate, they will indirectly do so. What does the university think about it? – The university must run research-based good education. When we get into situations where cheating is suspected, we have to investigate this. For every student, we must ensure that there is thorough case management, and we must safeguard the students’ legal security. That is our task. – Was Nord University aware of the extent of text similarity when the thesis was first assessed by the university? – We are now well into the matter, and I will not comment on that. We have set up an expert group, appointed examiners, and they are the ones who will work on that matter now, says Hansen. And adds: – Now it is the case that the case is pending, and then we will run the process that we have told you about earlier. This is very well described on the website. And then it runs its course. – Takes the matter seriously – At Nord University, this case concerns the following: The university has received a notification of possible plagiarism in a master’s thesis that two students have submitted to and had censored at the university as part of a master’s program. – We have taken the report seriously, and have decided to investigate the matter further. We do this by following normal procedures for case management, in line with current legislation. Solheim and Ljunggren point out that text similarity is not necessarily cheating. In the work on the Kjerkol case, a committee has been set up consisting of an internal and an external professional who has expertise in the relevant subject area. But who has not previously been in charge of the assignment or its censorship, as we use to deal with appeals in examinations. – In line with good practice, the process will mean that the students are given the opportunity to explain themselves, that decisions are made in the Board for Student Affairs, which deals with all cases where there is suspicion of cheating. When Kjerkol receives the decision made by the tribunal, she has the right to appeal to a joint national appeals board. – The fact that the process can take time is due to thorough case management where the students’ legal security is safeguarded, including access to appeal, not because Nord University works particularly slowly, write Ljunggren and Hansen. It is here at the department in Levanger that Ingvild Kjerkol was a student and submitted his master’s degree. Photo: Marit Langseth / news The rector and the dean have learned that several people have stated in the media that they have not heard of the Board for Student Affairs. It must be because they are uninformed, according to the Nord leaders – All Norwegian universities must have such a body. It is a requirement in the Universities and Colleges Act. The university is adamant that they have a sincere desire to uncover cheating. In 2023, 19 such cases were uncovered, according to Khrono. – It is also an important legal principle that people are innocent until proven guilty. It is therefore crucial to ensure students’ legal certainty in the event of suspicion of plagiarism. We must strive to ensure that we do not judge students for cheating unless we are sure that it is cheating. The rector and the dean hope that the debate surrounding the plagiarism cases being dealt with now can result in a wider dialogue in the sector. Especially about how the work to prevent cheating can best be done, while also looking after the students. – The University and College Council (UHR) has been working on this issue over time, and Nord University has taken the initiative towards the sector to get experience shared across all the institutions.
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– A case between us and the student – news Nordland
