The Government College University Lahore has zero tolerance policy for
plagiarism in online examinations, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar
Zaidi negating a myth that students can only be assessed properly in the
conventional mode of examinations.
"Our experience is different. We prepare questions in such a way that test
the students' ability to consult and comprehend multiple sources, analyses
the information they gather and make a critical argument," said Prof. Dr.
Asghar Zaidi in a press statement issued here on Tuesday with a schedule
for the university's online examinations.
The GCU Lahore will be conducting online examinations for the bachelor
degrees in the last week of May. The examinations will be conducted
according to the University's new online education policy.
"The mode of examination can be a time-bound open book, open internet paper
or long essay and viva," said Prof. Zaidi.
The VC said that they are conducting the online exams not only due to a
pandemic situation but also because it has a potential to be better system
of assessment than the conventional sit-in examinations.
"Those who enter the university education after intermediate are only good
at rote learning and reproducing information. They find it hard to build a
coherent discussion in the sit-in examinations," he said.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted that GCU's online assessment policy
develops students argumentative skills which is the main objective of
higher education.
A committee is deliberating to adopt this online assessment policy
permanently as one of the modes of examinations for the faculties of
Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Zaidi released.
During online examinations, the University will give a user id to each
student for every course to submit their papers to Turnitin software for
the plagiarism check. This will ensure original and timely submissions
While commenting on the uncertain condition due to the Covid-19 crisis,
Prof Zaidi said: Western Universities responded to the pandemic by
immediately adopting online assessment strategy for the next two to three
years. It gave them certainty and prepared students and faculty members for
online mode of examinations.
The Vice Chancellor said the Pakistani universities should have followed a
similar policy instead of relying on fortnightly announcements concerning
lockdowns. "Uncertainty is affecting our university education," Prof. Zaidi
concluded.