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Essay Mills Continue to Target University Students


Experts have stated that there has been minimal change following the enactment of the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill in 2022, with essay mills still operating from abroad.

For approximately £150, a Chinese student in the UK can purchase a 2,000-word essay and pay around £27.5 per hour to have someone else attend Zoom classes on their behalf, according to a Chinese agency.

Despite being banned in England and Wales two years ago, these agencies continue to flourish, with many targeting students in the UK, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Academic integrity experts have noted that essay mills are still prevalent, even being run by foreign agencies recruiting students for British universities, thereby compromising the quality of education.

Thomas Lancaster, a senior teaching fellow at Imperial College London, emphasized the need for educational authorities to enforce the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and urged universities to be more vigilant in monitoring agencies and engaging with students.

Mr. Lancaster and Robert Clarke, who coined the term “contract cheating,” highlighted the practice of outsourcing academic work to third parties.

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Instances of contract cheating can be detected by teachers through inconsistencies in students’ work, by reports from peers, or even by threats from essay mills attempting to blackmail students.

Yet, the extent of contract cheating remains unclear as only a small fraction of cases are uncovered. Studies from Swansea University in 2018 revealed that up to one in seven graduates may have engaged in contract cheating previously, translating to millions of students globally.

Robin Crockett, academic integrity lead at the University of Northampton, observed a surge in contract cheating a decade ago, particularly with the rise of cheaper essay mills abroad coinciding with higher university fees in England.

Mr. Crockett highlighted that individuals from various nationalities have been caught engaging in academic misconduct, revealing that the proportion of domestic and foreign students caught for wrongdoing is similar.

The enactment of the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 in 2022 criminalized the provision, facilitation, or promotion of contract cheating services in England and Wales.

Despite this law, there have not been reported prosecutions, likely due to limited policing resources, according to Mr. Crockett.

While some progress has been made in reducing the number of advertisements by essay mills, Mr. Lancaster noted that many smaller companies are still operating discreetly, believing they can evade detection.

During a discussion on Chinese essay mills, Mr. Lancaster highlighted a prevalent practice of agents engaging with clients on social media platforms like Wechat to offer ghostwriting services for assignments.

Prices for services vary based on factors like length, complexity, and quality of work required. The agency offered a reporter a 2,000-word essay on international trade for £150, with a higher fee if a native English speaker was requested.

Additional services included taking tests or attending classes on behalf of clients for a fee.

Surveys conducted in China revealed a significant proportion of students considering or engaging in ghostwriting services, especially among Chinese students studying abroad.

Furthermore, data from the US indicated a rise in dismissals of Chinese students from universities due to academic dishonesty, often associated with essay mills.

In discussions about foreign essay mills, concerns were raised about recruitment agencies exploiting students for financial gain, compromising educational integrity.

Efforts to combat contract cheating involve enhancing ethics education, ensuring academic integrity, and addressing the influence of AI on educational practices.

While some universities permit the use of AI under certain conditions, the long-term impact on the essay mill industry remains uncertain.



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