Thousands of students at British universities have been using Indian expertise in information technology in a growing phenomenon called “contract cheating”, whereby course assignments are contracted to freelancers and others online for a fee.
The phenomenon – first reported in academic circles in 2008 by academics Thomas Lancaster and Robert Clarke based at Birmingham City University – has become more sophisticated over the years, making it difficult to detect through usual plagiarism detection software.
One “contractor” based in Kolkata has made over 200 postings and records indicate that assignments from UK, the US, Australia, India and Sri Lanka have been processed, Clarke said. Many such “contractors” are associated with online essay-writing services available for a fee.
