SUPERVISOR AND SUPERVISEE RELATIONSHIP: THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES CONCERNING ACADEMIC THEFT IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTION
SUPERVISOR AND SUPERVISEE RELATIONSHIP: THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES CONCERNING ACADEMIC THEFT IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTION

Summary/Abstract: Scholars have rated academic research as an engine room for nation-building and development. However, research writing for publications has become a prerequisite in appraising and promoting academia in Nigeria higher institutions. Unfortunately, given the sheer desperation of most academia to meet up with publishing researchable articles for promotion, it has degenerated to a sharp and unwholesome practice of academia publishing their supervised student’s research project alone or as the first author. In this regard, this study adopts a hybrid method in ascertaining the rate of academic theft of supervisee research project by a supervisor and its legal implications in Nigeria. An online survey questionnaire was sent to 219 respondents (randomly selected under-graduate to post-graduate students) who reside in Nigeria. The data obtained was analysed via a descriptive and analytical method. The study found that there are incidences of supervisors publishing a supervised student’s research project alone or as first author, despite the fact that there are international and national laws that condemn academic copyright theft. Therefore, the study concludes and recommends that the management of higher institutions in Nigeria should prohibit and prosecute academia indulging in publishing student’s research project alone or as a first author via policy and the available legal framework.

• Details
• Contents