BAU International University Batumi takes care of educating individuals participating in educational and/or scientific-research activities about plagiarism and also introduces the culture of academic writing through proper training courses in order to prevent plagiarism.
The program TURNITIN has been established in order to find instances of plagiarism in conference, scientific, or exam work produced by university students. A student's work is compared with both online and Turnitin database materials as part of this online plagiarism detection and citation checking method. It creates a report of document similarities and is a popular tool for enhancing academic writing abilities.
How does Turnitin work?
Turnitin analyzes the presented paper and compares it:
Turitin generates the so-called The Similarity Report, where the parts of the text that correspond to the works of others in the database or indicate the citations that are copied and the corresponding source is not indicated in the used literature, are highlighted in color.
Why does the university use Turnitin software?
When a student is creating any type of document, such as a research paper or an exam paper, it is easy to make mistakes in citing the literature used and/or use unidentified Internet sources. Turnitin helps both the university and the student maintain academic integrity.
What happens if a student's paper is found to be plagiarized?
During the process of developing a conference/scientific paper, the supervisor of the relevant paper ensures the verification of the student's paper through the Turnitin electronic system. Within the scope of the paper, in case of the facts of academic dishonesty (exceeding the percentage limit of the allowed similarity ratio), the paper is sent to the student for reprocessing before the expiration of the deadline for submitting the paper. In the case of writing an exam paper, exceeding the percentage limit of the allowed similarity coefficient, the student is considered to have failed the exam and is obliged to retake the subject/block in the week of additional exams.
If I have questions about using Turnitin, who do I contact for more information?
For questions about using Turnitin or to request a report generated from the program, you should contact the Turnitin administrator at turnitinbau@gmail.com.
1. A funding for studies implies reduction of a tuition fee set for a certain period of time by the teaching university.
2. A reduction of a tuition fee is realized through awarding a grant to a successful applicant in amount of respective concession.
Basis for receiving funding for studies
1. The basis for obtaining funding for studies is announcement of an applicant as a winner of a grant competition by the committee observing the rule set by this charter and the rector’s order and award of a grant on the ground of the rector’s order except for exceptions defined by this charter.
2. In case defined by article 10, paragraph 2, the basis for obtaining funding for studies is aroused when an applicant submits a written application, a committee makes a positive decision regarding grant award with the majority of votes by a list and a grant is awarded on the ground of the rector’s order.
3. In case defined by this article, paragraph 2, the composition of the committee shall meet the requirements set by chapter III of this charter.
4. For encouraging internationalization of the teaching university, the rector shall have a right to award maximum 50 % grant with an order to international students with high academic performance for the next semester whose assessment indicators (GPA) are above 91 for a respective semester.
Stages of a grant competition
1. A grant competition consists of the following stages:
a) Announcement of a grant competition;
b) Registration of applicants;
c) Assessment of submitted documents;
d) Interviews with applicants and assessment of the interviews;
e) Announcement of a successful applicant by a committee;
f) Award of a grant to a successful applicant by the rector of the teaching university;
Principles for granting funding for studies
1. Funding for studies can be obtained exclusively through a grant competition which is based on the following principles:
a) Fairness and impartiality of the committee;
b) Availability and transparency of information;
c) Competitiveness and fair competition;
d) Equality and inadmissibility of discrimination;
Announcement of a grant competition
1. A grant competition is announced by the order of the rector of the teaching university which defines the following observing the rule set by this charter:
A list of required documents
1. For participating in a grant competition an applicant must submit:
a) An application about participation in a grant competition;
b) A copy of an ID or a passport;
c) A cover letter;
d) Two recommendation letters;
2. An order of the rector of the teaching university defines a list of additional documents required for a respective grant competition as well as requirements to be met by submitted documents.
A rule and criteria for assessing an applicant
1. Within a grant competition, an applicant is assessed with 100 (one hundred) point system out of which submitted documents are assessed with 50 (fifty) points and an interview with an applicant is assessed with 50 (fifty) points.
2. Each member of the committee individually assesses an applicant. Final assessment is calculated through adding individual assessments and dividing the sum by a number of the committee members.
3. An order of the rector of the teaching university determines a rule for distributing points and criteria when assessing submitted documents as well as a rule and criteria for assessing an interview
Volume of a grant and maximum amount
1. In the frames of a grant competition 30 (thirty), 40 (forty) and 50 (fifty) % grants can be awarded.
2. In exceptional cases, the teaching university can award 100 (one hundred) % grant for meeting marketing objectives of the teaching university, for encouraging mobility of students in the frames of memorandums signed with other educational establishments and/or for supporting socially disadvantaged students.
3. An order of the rector of the teaching university defines maximum volume of funding for studies and a number of points necessary for obtaining a specific amount of grant.
Basis for revoking a grant
1. Revocation of a grant implies loss of a right to benefit from financial concession by a successful applicant of a grant competition.
2. The grant can be revoked on the following basis:
a) Submission of wrong and/or false information by an applicant in the frames of a grant competition;
b) Disciplinary offence committed by a successful applicant of a grant competition;
c) Poor academic performance of a successful applicant of a grant competition;
3. Additional basis might be introduced for revoking a grant on the basis of an order of the rector of the teaching university in congruence with the terms and conditions of a grant competition.
Revocation of a grant on the basis of submitting incorrect and/or false information
1. If it turns out that a successful applicant of a grant competition submitted wrong and/or false information in the frames of a grant competition, awarded grant is revoked regardless a date of enacting a grant.
2. In case a grant is revoked on the basis of submitting wrong and/or false information, the teaching university shall have a right to request an applicant reimbursement of amount of money that he/she received as a form of financial concession during validity period of the mentioned grant.
3. Alongside with revocation of a grant, an applicant might be imposed a disciplinary action in congruence with internal normative acts of the teaching university.
Revocation of a grant on the basis of a disciplinary offence
1.In case a successful applicant of a grant competition commits a disciplinary offence, an awarded grant might be revoked upon a decision of a disciplinary committee.
2. Depending on seriousness of a disciplinary offence, a disciplinary committee shall have a right not to terminate a grant, suspend a grant for maximum 1 (one) year or entirely revoke a grant.
Revocation of a grant on the basis of poor academic performance
1. Validity of an awarded grant depends on index of semester assessment (GPA) of a student except for the first three semesters.
2. Assessment of a previous semester of a successful applicant of a grant competition must be minimum 81 points as a prerequisite for prolonging a grant for the next semester except for the semesters indicated in paragraph 1 of this article.
3. If semester assessment of a successful applicant of a grant competition is less than 81 points, a grant is revoked at the end of the mentioned semester.
4. Upon decision of the rector of the teaching university, an applicant might retain a grant regardless the basis defined by this article, if poor academic performance is conditioned due to invincible, objective, obstructing circumstances beyond an applicant’s control.
5. A successful applicant of a grant competition shall have a right to request restoration of a grant if his/her semester assessment will be at least 81 points.
A tuition fee for the next year is determined by the university at the beginning of each academic year based on an order issued by the rector.
A tuition fee is paid during one academic year on a semester basis in two stages observing the terms set for academic and financial registration by the rector’s order. Additional terms can be introduced for paying a tuition fee by the rector’s order. A semester tuition fee equals to a half of the whole tuition fee.
A student must pay a tuition fee either in cash (at a financial department) or via a bank transfer realized on a bank account of the university.
Failure to pay a tuition fee leads to suspension of a student status. A student with a suspended student status is not entitled to receive paid tuition fee back.
A student can have a suspended student status for 5 (five) years. After this deadline, a student status is terminated. A student with a terminated student status is not entitled to receive paid tuition fee back if applicable.
When a student enrolls after the basis for suspending a student status is eradicated and a student status is restored, a student pays a tuition fee set for an educational program for a current year.
If a student fails to take a course or assimilate credits through his/her fault, a student must undertake a respective academic registration and pay for a course retake. Cost of one ECTS credit is defined by an internal regulating act of the teaching university.
If mandatory credits are not recognized for a mobility student (transferred either from Georgian or foreign university), a student must register courses and pay cost of a respective credit.
In case any disputes arise regarding payment of a tuition fee, a student must present a document confirming payment of a tuition fee. Otherwise, financial liability will not be considered fulfilled.
The sale and placement of tobacco products, tobacco accessories and equipment intended for tobacco use is prohibited on the territory of the educational university.
In the territory of the educational university, it is forbidden to distribute the products mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article by means of gambling, as well as its promotion.
Prohibition of tobacco use
1. It is prohibited to consume tobacco products in any form on the territory of the educational university, except for a special place for tobacco consumption.
2. Except for a specially designated place, demonstration of the consumption of tobacco products is allowed only within the framework of a thematic meeting about its harmful properties.
3. It is not allowed to place tobacco waste on the territory of the educational university, except for the appropriate trash can.
Organizational-structural unit responsible for controlling tobacco consumption
1. The security service under the material-technical service of the educational university is responsible for ensuring the fulfillment of the requirements defined in this rule.
2. Employees of the security service are obliged not to allow the sale, placement and/or promotion of the products mentioned in Article 2, Clause 1 of this regulation on the territory of the educational university.
3. Employees of the security service are obliged not to allow the consumption of tobacco products in any form on the territory of the educational university, except for the special place designated for tobacco consumption, and in case of such a fact, to immediately inform the head of the administration.
Liability
1. Failure to comply with the requirements specified in Article 2 of the present rule will result in the violator being fined 100 GEL, and in the case of repeating the same action - 500 GEL.
2. Failure to comply with the requirements specified in Article 3 of the present rule will result in the violator being fined 25 GEL, and in the case of repeating the same action - 50 GEL.
3. In case of violation of the requirements of this rule by a student and/or employed staff of the educational university, in addition to the responsibility specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, the violator shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary responsibility.
4. Based on non-fulfillment of this provision, in the event of a fine being imposed on the educational university, the university is entitled to demand the amount of the imposed fine from the violator in the manner of recourse.
5. In the event of a fine to a person employed at the educational university, the university has the right to deduct the amount of the fine from the salary of the violator.
The student self-government is a representative collegial body of students elected by the students of the educational university in the manner of universal, direct, equal and secret elections.
The regulations of the student self-government define its goals, rights and duties, its organizational structure, the procedure for electing delegates and the president, as well as issues of impeachment and accountability.
The structure of student self-government consists of decision-making higher representative and executive bodies, student ombudsman and committees.
The highest representative decision-making body is the general meeting of delegates of the student self-government, and the president of the student self-government implements the decision made by the meeting. At the same time, the president is the student ombudsman.
The Student Self-Government Committee is a collegial structural unit created by the decision of the General Meeting of Delegates, which develops projects, proposals, recommendations and various measures on the issues determined for this committee. All students have the right to join and participate in the activities of the committee.
Within 1 month before the expiration of the term of office of the delegates of the student self-government, another election is appointed by the order of the educational university, by which 2 delegates from each course will be elected for a period of 2 years. The elected delegate has the right to present his/her candidacy for the position of president, who is elected by the delegates for a 2-year term.
Along with the executive function of the president of the student self-government, his most important purpose is the implementation of the mandate of the ombudsman, which involves the development of mechanisms for the protection of students' legal rights and interests, their implementation and monitoring.
The main regulation is the main normative act defining the process of educational and scientific-research activities of the university, the authority of its organizational-structural units, effective management principles and other educational-scientific and administrative issues.
In relation to other internal normative documents of the university, the regulation has the predominant legal force and its implementation is mandatory for both the university staff and students.
The statute defines the mission, goals and objectives of the educational university, as well as its legal foundations and management principles. In addition, the statute establishes the organizational arrangement of the educational university's activities (a link that will directly redirect to the organizational map should be indicated here), the powers of the units included in it, and issues of accountability.
Chapter VII of the regulation refers to the legal status of students of the educational university, in particular, Article 1 of the aforementioned chapter establishes the status of the student and his rights and duties, while Articles 2 and 3 refer to the student self-government and ombudsman created in the educational university for the protection and better realization of their rights. the foundations of functioning of institutions.
The educational university constantly takes care of maintaining the high quality of education, protection of students' rights and organizational development, in connection with which it proactively revises and refines the legal framework of the university's activities.
The goal of the Student Code of Ethics is to create a friendly, safe and respectful environment for the students of the University.
A student's behavior that insults the dignity of others, interferes with the educational process and damages the environment based on mutual respect is considered a violation of the code of ethics.
In connection with a possible violation of the code of ethics, disciplinary proceedings are initiated, which is carried out by a collegial body created by the order of the rector - the disciplinary committee, which is obliged to study all the circumstances relevant to the case.
If the fact of disciplinary misconduct is confirmed, the committee issues a decision to impose a disciplinary penalty on the student.
Disciplinary proceedings can be started no later than 1 year after the discovery of the fact of possible misconduct.
A process of registration for an exam
1. Registration for an exam begins 10 (ten) minutes before an exam starts;
2. For identification, a student must present an ID/passport to a representative of the examination center. In case of an online exam, a university email address and visual examination are used for a student identification.
3. If a student is late for an exam for 10 (ten) minutes he/she can be allowed to take an exam. However, he/she will not be given additional time. If a student is late for an exam for more than 10 (ten) minutes, he/she will not be allowed to take an exam and will be assessed with zero (o).
4. Before an exam begins, an employee of the examination center (or an invigilator) informs students about the rules of conduct during an exam;
5. An examination time countdown for a physical exam starts after registering a student entitled to take an examination, an invigilator and an assessor for an exam, from the moment an employee of the examination center issues a notification about the commencement of the countdown.
6. A test exam starts automatically at time indicated for an exam commencement.
7. An examination time countdown for an online exam starts after registering of a student entitled to take an examination, an invigilator and an assessor for an exam, from the moment an employee of the examination center issues a notification about the commencement of the countdown.
8. An employee of the examination center (or an invigilator) informs students about remaining time 10 (ten) minutes before an exam is finished. This rule does not apply to oral exams.
A rule of conduct of a student at an examination center
1. When taking an exam, a student:
a) Must arrive at an examination center minimum 10 (ten) minutes before an exam starts. In case of an online exam a student must establish online contact with an examination center minimum 10 (ten) minutes before an exam starts;
b) Must hand in a mobile phone and other communication means (a laptop, a tablet, an electronic book and any other device with audio-visual display and/or with connection function) to an employee of the examination center (or an invigilator);
c) Must obey to instructions of a representative of the examination center or an invigilator. Disobedience, abuse or obstruction of an exam in any manner will result in a student’s dismissal from an exam;
d) Must remain calm during an exam, it is not allowed to shout out from a place or talk loudly to oneself;
e) Must raise his/her hand to refer to an invigilator in case he/she finishes an exam early and to hand in an exam paper as well as a paper for notes;
f) Must leave an examination hall after handing in an exam paper;
2) In case of an online exam, a student is responsible for providing uninterrupted online connection.
3. During an exam a student is not allowed:
a) To carry a mobile phone or any other electronic communication devices;
b) To use a supportive material during an exam- textbooks, notes, papers (except for sheets of papers provided by the examination center) and other materials;
c) To talk to other students, to provide assistance or receive help in any manner, to interrupt other students in any manner;
d) To carry any belongings to an exam center except for water and a paper napkin;
e) To arrive at an exam center with a jacket and a hat;
f) To leave his/her working place without permission. Leaving a working place is permitted only with an accompanying person;
g) To place any other items on a working place except for the items allowed by the examination center;
h) To start working on an exam paper without a corresponding instruction;
i) To continue working on an exam paper after an exam time expires.
4. A student will receive a warning during an exam:
a) In case any supportive material is found at an exam;
b) In case he/she talks to other student, makes unreasonably excessive movements, provides/receives assistance, interrupts other student in any other manner;
c) In case he/she puts prohibited items on a working place;
d) In case he/she starts working on an exam paper without a corresponding instruction;
5. In case a student repeatedly violates the paragraph 3 of this article, he/she will be dismissed from an exam and will be assessed with zero (0) and corresponding minutes will be prepared hereto.
6. A student can be dismissed from an exam without a warning:
a) If a mobile phone or any other electronic devices are found;
b) In case he/she rudely violates the order, insults a participant of an exam process or in any other similar cases;
c) In case a student is under influence of alcohol, drugs or psychotropic substances;
7. A student will not be allowed to take an exam:
a) If he/she is not on a list of students entitled to take an examination;
b) If he/she does not carry ID/passport, if a student cannot be identified;
c) In case he/she is under influence of alcohol, drugs;
d) In case he/she refuses to hand in a mobile phone and other devices;
8. A student’s exam paper will not be assessed and he/she will be marked with 0 (zero):
a) If a student does not stop working after an exam time expires and does not hand in an exam paper;
b) If he/she damages an exam paper;
c) In case he/she violates paragraph 5 of this article;
Exam results
1. If an exam is conducted via computers in a test format, a student receives exam results within no later than 1 day after an exam is finished.
2. If an exam is conducted in a written form, exam papers are assessed by a corresponding course professor. In case of up to 25 exam papers, exam results will be published within three business days after an exam is finished, in case of more than 25 papers - within one week after an exam is finished;
3. If an exam is conducted in an oral form, a student immediately learns about exam results;
4. In case the terms indicated in paragraphs 1-3 of this article are not observed, the examination center and/or an assessor must notify the dean of the school hereto.
5. Exam results will be also available in an electronic management system (KEYPS) where a student can access the exam results using his/her username and a password;
6. A student has a right to retake an exam in the same semester, during an additional exam week.
7. An interval between a final and a corresponding additional exam must be at least 5 days after the results of a final exam become available/are accessible in an electronic management system (KEYPS).
Cancelation of an examination
1. A decision regarding cancelation of an examination is made in case:
a) There is information about unauthorized persons having access to exam questions;
b) Exam questions are not in congruence with requirements set by the teaching university and/or with syllabus.
2. Under this article, unauthorized persons are people except for a course assessor and an employee of the examination center.
3. An examination can be canceled before final exams of a respective semester are finished.
4. A decision about cancellation of an examination is made based on proposal of the school with the rector’s order. It is admissible not to indicate the source of the information in the decision about circumstances stated in paragraph one of this article.
Restoration of an examination
1. An exam can be restored in case there are evidences justifying a student’s absence on an examination due to the following mitigating circumstances: illness which requires isolation or hospitalization and/or presence of any other force majeure circumstances preventing a student from arriving at an examination place.
2. A student’s justified application about an exam restoration can be submitted at the examination center within 1 day after corresponding circumstances pass. A student must justify factual impossibility to take an exam in an application indicating exact terms of mitigating circumstances and provide corresponding evidences.
3. After a semester ends, it is impossible to restore an exam.
A complaint form
1. A complaint form of a student must be filled in according to a complaint form approved by this rule (annex №1);
2. The complaint form must contain the following information:
a) Identity of a person submitting a complaint;
b) Description of a violated procedure;
c) A date of submitting a complaint form;
3. A complaint form submitted disregarding paragraph 2 of this article will not be subject to a review;
4. A student must submit a complaint form within 1 (one) business day after an exam is finished. If the complaint form is submitted disregarding this term, it will not be reviewed.
5. A complaint form is submitted to the examination center. The head of the examination center reviews the complaint form in the frames of his/her competence within 3 (three) business days of receipt of the complaint.
6. After reviewing a complaint form an examination center is entitled to make one the following decisions:
a) To satisfy a complaint and to grant a student a right to retake an exam;
b) To reject a complaint;
c) To leave a complaint without review.
7. Decisions under subparagraphs A and B of paragraph 6 of this article must be justified and supported.
8. A decision under subparagraph C of paragraph 6 of this article is made in case a form set by the paragraph 1 of this article is disregarded or if the decision has been already made about a similar complaint.
9. A decision made by the examination center about a submitted complaint can be appealed with a justified appeal at an appeal committee within 1 day after the decision is made (Annex №3 3)
An appeal form
1. A student shall have a right to submit an appeal form regarding content of an exam material (relevance with a syllabus and/or a technical error) and/or an exam assessment;
2. An appeal form must be filled in according to an appeal form (Annex №2) approved under this rule;
3. An appeal form must contain the following information:
a) Identity of a person submitting an appeal;
b) Description of a violated part and/or assessment indicating an appealed exam component and the source proving correctness of a student’s answer.
c) A date of submitting an appeal form;
4. A appeal form submitted disregarding paragraph 3 of this article will not be subject to a review;
5. According to paragraph 3, subparagraph B of this article, mandatory and/or additional literature regarded by the course syllabus is considered as the source to prove correctness of a student’s answer.
6. A student must submit an appeal form within 1 (one) business day after exam results become available. An appeal form submitted disregarding this term, will not be reviewed.
7. An appeal form is submitted to the examination center. The head of the examination center together with a course assessor reviews the appeal form within 3 (three) business days of its receipt.
8. After reviewing an appeal form the examination center is entitled to make one the following decisions:
a) To satisfy an appeal and to grant an assessment to a student in issue/assessment under review;
b) To determine necessity for gathering additional information around the submitted appeal and to request creation of an appeal committee;
c) To reject an appeal;
d) To leave an appeal without review.
9. The examination center shall have a right to make a decision stated in subparagraph A, paragraph 8 of this article to satisfy an appeal and to grant an assessment to a student in issue/assessment under review, in case an error has been identified in an exam question or assessment based on evidences provided in an appeal form and through consultation held with an assessor. In this case corresponding minutes are prepared with signatures of the head of the examination center and a professor.
10. The examination center shall have a right to make a decision stated in subparagraph B, paragraph 8 of this article to determine necessity for gathering additional information around the submitted appeal in case an issue transcends competence of the examination center and/or it is necessary to gather additional information. In this case, the decision of the examination center must include justification about creation of an appeal committee as well as tentative composition of the committee.
11. The examination center shall have a right to make a decision stated in subparagraph C, paragraph 8 of this article to reject an appeal, if no error can be identified either in an exam question or in assessment based on analyzed information.
12. A decision stated in subparagraph D, paragraph 8 of this article to leave an appeal without review shall be made in case the form set in paragraph 3 of this article is disregarded, or sources are missing in justification section or improper sources are provided. An appeal is not subject to a review also in case a decision has been already made regarding the similar issue.
13. A decision of the examination center made about a submitted appeal can be appealed with a justified complaint at the appeal committee within 1 day after the decision is made (Annex №3)
