This document discusses the problem of plagiarism at universities in Armenia and identifies contributing factors and measures to address it. There is currently no standardized policy on plagiarism and universities do not have procedures for sanctioning it. Additionally, traditions discourage independent writing, such as low expectations for papers, ineffective supervision, and repetition of broad thesis topics year after year. To unravel this issue, measures are proposed like educating students on plagiarism, adopting formal plagiarism policies, making assignments more argumentative and specific, improving supervision, and addressing the root causes beginning in secondary school.

1. PLAGIARISM AT THE UNIVERSITIES OF ARMENIA.
UNRAVELING THE TANGLE
Yerevan, 22 September 2011
“Crossroads Debate Club” NGO

2. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR 1. UNAWARENESS
• There is no institutionalized approach/policy
toward plagiarism on the part of Universities
or the RA Ministry of Education and Science.
• Universities do not have formal procedures for
sanctioning plagiarism.
• As a rule, universities and professors view
instances of plagiarism as a form of minor
offence.

3. • Universities do not have courses of academic
writing.
• There are no alternative forms of transferring
information about plagiarism to students. At
best, students learn about plagiarism from
their supervisors, friends, Internet, etc.
• There remain persisting misperceptions about
plagiarism and principles of academic ethics
among students and even professors.

4. FACTOR 2. TRADITIONS DISCOURAGING
INDEPENDENT WRITING
• Low expectations from papers (referat) and
course/diploma theses which are viewed as a
form of simple reproduction of existing
knowledge.
• “Top-down approach” in selection of themes
for course/diploma/master’s theses; lack of
interest in proposed (imposed) themes;
repetition of themes from one year to
another.

5. • Prevalence of too broad and descriptive (as
opposed to argumentative) themes of papers,
course/diploma/master’s theses.
• Ineffective supervision by professors.
• Roots of university plagiarism going back to
the secondary school (school referats/papers).

6. MEASURES FOR UNRAVELING THE TANGLE
1. Taking measures toward producing internal and
external incentives
• Organize introductory lectures for first-year students on plagiarism
and referencing.
• Publish and distribute teaching materials with information about
plagiarism.
• Organize PR initiatives toward raising awareness about plagiarism.
• Prepare specialists of academic writing; introduce courses of
academic writing at universities (long-term approach!).
• Adopt internal regulations for sanctioning plagiarism.

7. • Create electronic database of papers,
course/diploma/master’s theses written in the Armenian
language.
• Popularize successful work (student conferences and
publications).
2. Making the written assignments student-oriented
• Make papers, course/diploma/master’s theses
argumentative and specific.
• Adopt bottom-up versus top-down approach in designating
the themes.
• Make supervision and feedback of students’ written work
more efficient.
• Pay attention to the situation in the Secondary school.