Honor Code & Academic Misconduct

The WU Executive Academy fosters a collaborative atmosphere among students, faculty, staff, and administration, dedicated to promoting professional development and upholding rigorous academic standards. All participants are urged to actively contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the overall academic
experience. Qualities of honesty and integrity are indispensable in this environment. It is crucial for all individuals involved in the program to uphold these standards, ensuring that every community member can wholeheartedly participate in the
pursuit of their academic goals. The Honor Code serves to define instances of academic misconduct and prescribe the appropriate actions to be taken in the event of a policy violation. The
following pertains specifically to matters of academic misconduct and does not override any existing institutional policies of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien) or the laws of Austria. Procedures concerning misconduct cases will adhere to the universities’ policies and Austrian laws governing academic information and privacy. All students acknowledge and accept the terms of the Honor Code as part of the admission process to their respective programs.

Definitions of Academic Misconduct

The Honor Code outlines matters of scholastic dishonesty as follows:

    • Submission of false records of academic achievement
    • Cheating on assignments or examinations and/or support of such activity
    • Plagiarizing – submitting another’s work or ideas as one’s own
    • Altering, forging, or misusing a University academic record
    • Acting alone or in co-operation with another to falsify records or obtain falsified grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement.

Student Responsibility

At the heart of the Honor Code lies the principle of personal responsibility. Within this framework, students who partake in academic misconduct shall assume complete accountability for their actions and be subject to the procedures outlined in the Honor Code. It is advantageous for the entire community to exercise self-monitoring. In most instances, students are encouraged to preserve the ethos of the Honor Code by resolving misconduct issues through communication amongst themselves. However, should a case present distinctive circumstances, a comprehensive review process may be initiated involving any of the following parties:

    • MBA Program Management or Academic Director
    • Faculty members
    • The Dean of the WU Executive Academy

Faculty Responsibility

In fostering the professional and academic growth of all PMBA community members, the PMBA faculty is obligated to observe the following guidelines:

    • At the commencement of each class, it is the lecturer’s responsibility to clearly delineate any distinctions between group and individual assignments. This clarification should be documented in the course syllabus or an accompanying attachment.
    • In the case of non-group, individual examinations, the lecturer must provide an examination environment conducive to independent work.
    • Upon being informed of academic misconduct, the lecturer will promptly notify both the accused student and the Academic Director. The lecturer must then undertake one of the following actions:
      • Determine an appropriate sanction for the accused student and report the resolution to the Dean of the WU Executive Academy and the respective PMBA Academic Director, or
      • Request the Academic Director to implement the sanction.
    • The Academic Director will function as a consultant to the faculty, addressing inquiries related to academic dishonesty.

Procedure

If a faculty member, student, or the Academic Director seeks a sanction, the ensuing steps shall be taken:

  • The Academic Director will formally inform the accused student in writing regarding the impending request for sanctions due to misconduct.
  • The student will be granted the opportunity to present a written statement in defense.
  • The Academic Director will either enforce sanctions directly or provide suitable recommendations to the Dean of the WU Executive Academy.

Possible sanctions encompass verbal or written warnings, probation, or suspension from the program.

Review and appeal process

If a student wishes to contest sanctions imposed by a lecturer, an appeal may be made to the Academic Director, leading to a formal hearing. Alternatively, if sanctions are levied by the Academic Director, the student has the option to appeal to the Dean of the WU Executive Academy.

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