A Freedom of Information request has revealed at least 2,300 cases of cheating at universities and institutes of technology since 2010.

The figures revealed by the Irish Times show a growing number of students attempting to cheat their way to qualification through the use of technology.

‘Contract cheating’ or paying others to do college work, is also on the rise, despite strenuous attempts by academic authorities to emphasise the importance of original work. 

Sanctions including a reduction in marks, letters of warning, fines, suspension or even expulsion are used to discourage cheating.

In tandem, new legislation will outlaw write-to-order ‘essay mills’ which offer a plagiarism service. 

TheQualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) billwill grant new powers to academic standards watchdog, Quality& Qualifications Ireland, and will amend theprevious act of 2012.

Offence

The new law will make it an offence to provide written-to-order essays.

New Zealand is the only country with legislation to make it illegal to provide a third-party academic cheating system.

Requirement

On some websites, the colleges and courses 'cheated for' are listed. Students can submit a detailed requirement of the essay they want written.