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Presentation of Learning

What to expect if you are invited to attend a Presentation of Learning event as part of an investigation into academic misconduct.

What is a Presentation of Learning event?

If your Director of Studies (DoS) is concerned that a piece of work you submitted for assessment is not all your own work, they will arrange to meet with you to make you aware of this and how they are going to investigate the issue. The University calls this process investigating suspected academic misconduct.

Your DoS will then look into the assessment you presented; consider the sources you have used and your referencing. During this part of the process, they may decide that it would be helpful to meet with you again to talk about the work you have submitted, to gain an understanding of your thought processes and your working style to create the submitted work. This event is called a Presentation of Learning event. It is a formal part of the process to investigate whether the piece of work you submitted is all your own work or whether a form of academic misconduct may have taken place. It is an opportunity for you to demonstrate to your DoS and marker that the work is your own.

How will I know that I have been asked to attend a Presentation of Learning event?

Your Director of Studies (DoS) will email you a letter inviting you to the meeting, and they will give you seven calendar days’ notice of the event. This will allow you time to prepare for the meeting and seek support if you wish to do so. In the letter the DoS will describe:

  • the format of the meeting – and that you will be asked questions on the piece of work, the sources you used as well as why you chose to use references you have used.
  • where the meeting will be held.
  • who will be present (it should be the DoS and the marker of the assessment work) - if the DoS is also the marker of the work, they may invite an appropriate member of academic staff to participate.
  • how to get support prior to the Presentation of Learning event.

Examples of appropriate advisors include:

The letter will make you aware that the event is expected to be recorded. You will receive an email from your DoS after the event (within seven calendar days) with a summary of the Presentation of Learning event.

You will be asked to inform your DoS of any reasonable adjustments that will help you take part in the Presentation of Learning event. Whether you have a Disability Access Plan (DAP) or not it is important that you let your DoS know of any reasonable adjustments you would like.

Examples of reasonable adjustments include (but not an exhaustive list):

  • a short break may be taken during the event.
  • questions can be given in a different format during the event and additional time for responses given.
  • provision of extra learning aids.

The letter will tell you that you do not need to take part in the Presentation of Learning event. Your DoS will note that you were offered the opportunity to take part in a Presentation of Learning event and whether you declined that offer.

What happens during a Presentation of Learning event?

Your Director of Studies (DoS) and the marker of the work being reviewed will welcome you and introduce themselves. They should make sure that you are seated comfortably, and they should explain what will happen during the Presentation of Learning event. The event should last between 30 and 45 minutes.

You will be asked questions concerning:

  • the work you submitted.
  • the references you have used in the work.
  • the way you have set out your work.
  • any additional detail you wish to share that clarifies any concerns about your work.

You will be given time to think before answering questions. You may ask for questions to be clarified or simplified before you answer. If you can’t answer a question, you should say so.

What happens after the Presentation of Learning event?

Your Director of Studies (DoS) will write to you within seven calendar days with a summary of the event. You have seven calendar days to respond and confirm that the summary is an accurate description of the Presentation of Learning event.

Your DoS will then use this record as part of the information available to decide what the next step of the academic misconduct process will be.

Further advice and support

Further information

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