Awareness of Plagiarism Among Diploma Students: A Study in UiTM Pahang Branch Jengka Campus

Plagiarism awareness among students is essential for fostering academic integrity and maintaining educational standards. With the increasing availability of digital resources, students now have greater access to information, which has, in turn, made it easier to misuse or copy others’ work without proper attribution. This study specifically investigates the level of plagiarism awareness among Diploma students and examines their understanding of academic integrity and ethical scholarship. Plagiarism has become a significant concern for educational institutions, as easy access to online information has heightened the risk of academic dishonesty. This research aims to assess students’ knowledge of plagiarism, their attitudes, and the effectiveness of institutional policies and resources in promoting academic honesty. Using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) as a research methodology, the study collects data on students’ awareness of plagiarism, understanding of citation practices, and perception of the consequences associated with academic misconduct. NGT allows for structured data collection through collaborative group discussions, which helps to capture diverse perspectives on plagiarism and academic ethics among students. Findings from this study reveal varied levels of awareness while some students exhibit a limited understanding of citation standards, others show an improvement in their comprehension of plagiarism’s ethical implications. These results highlight the need for enhanced educational interventions, including more effective training and resources that emphasize the importance of originality and respect for intellectual property. Ultimately, the study suggests that fostering a culture of integrity within academic institutions can significantly reduce instances of plagiarism and better equip students to produce original work, upholding the values of ethical scholarship.