Dr. Anna Murphy:

It is a big problem. We do not have the data for the extent of it in Ireland. That is an important issue we need to address. Recent international evidence has shown, for example in Australia, that it is much more prevalent that had been thought. Guy Curtis who has been an expert in this field for 20 years or more said in November that his estimate is that 8% to 10% of Australian students engage in contract cheating. It is quite significant. There is no reason to believe that things are any different here. We need to know more. There are encouraging signs. We have legislation here to enable us to prosecute contract cheating. We have a very good academic integrity network of people in higher education from across students, staff, professional bodies and so on in both public and private. There is a good deal of global engagement and good research and co-operation between the relevant agencies and between experts to look at all the elements. We need the multipronged approach of raising awareness, being on top of it as the Senator says, to know what is happening and to design solutions. Artificial intelligence is part of the problem but it is also part of the solution. We really just have to keep on top of it as best we can.