VTU formulates strict rule to curb plagiarism

Implementation of Anti-Plagiarism rules

The new rules formulated by The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) will make writing a thesis even tougher for the students of the varsity from this year. The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has implemented stringent rules to avoid plagiarism of theses by the students. The varsity has been receiving multiple complaints with regard to the plagiarised thesis material. Acting on such complaints, the Visvesvaraya Technological University is resorting to technology to kerb such malpractices which are taking place. The strict rule on plagiarism has already been implemented in 2014-15 on Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students.
Now the Visvesvaraya Technological University has plans to extend the same rules to other sectors including, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and Master of Technology (M Tech) courses also. By reducing the accepted percentage of imitated/borrowed material from 30% to 25% for its students, the varsity will grant them two chances to submit a thesis, devoid of any copied material. According to the Visvesvaraya Technological University officials, the students have to submit the soft copies of the thesis to research guides, which will go through software verification.

When the law takes effect

"If the copied material is more than 25%, it will be returned. The students will be offered one more opportunity to edit and submit the thesis. In case the thesis is proved to be plagiarised after the second attempt also, the registration of the student will be cancelled", the officials added. The Visvesvaraya Technological University had also issued a circular during 2009 to affiliated colleges regarding the matter of thesis submitted to the varsity being plagiarised from various sources including the internet, papers submitted to other universities and papers published in national and international journals. A circular was also issued during 2009 by the Visvesvaraya Technological University to the affiliated colleges regarding the matter of theses submitted to the varsity being plagiarised from various sources. The sources included: the internet, papers submitted to other universities and papers published in national and international journals. Visvesvaraya Technological University will also be starting online payment for 16 examination-oriented services, as per reports. In another move, the Visvesvaraya Technological University has allowed extra time to its students for completion of their Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degrees as a one-time measure only, according to the website.

Temporary modifications of the law                                                                                                                                                                           

The students of Bachelor of Engineering regular courses who have taken admission in the year 2006-07 as well as students who have taken admission through lateral entry in the year 2008-09 will be permitted to appear for the December 2014/January 2015 and the June 2015/July 2015 university semester examinations one more time. This enables them to clear the examination as well as complete their degrees. The students of regular courses should have completed the entire course within the stipulated time-frame of eight years and left with few backlog subjects. The students of Bachelor of Engineering courses through lateral entry should have completed the full course within the stipulated period of six years and left with few backlog subjects. These students need to pay a penalty of Rs 3,000 for each subject, in addition to the examination fee.