The simple definition of plagiarism is that it is the claiming of another person’s work as one’s own.
However, this definition does not address any of the deeper issues around plagiarism, including the reasons
why it occurs or the remedies that may be applied to its different aspects. Indeed, issues about plagiarism
are much more than just techniques for its detection. At a minimum, issues include:
the detection of plagiarism,
the nature of assessment tasks and assignments that are amenable to and reward plagiarism,
the education of students and staff about plagiarism along with correct referencing and citing,
the aspects of cultural diversity that drive the issues involved in copying other’s work,
the creation of simple and accessible standards (e.g., IEEE) for the correct usage of intellectual material,
the influence of readily-available information indexes, such as Google,
the work habits and time management of students that encourage plagiarism, and
the effects of plagiarism in the industrial setting.
Plagiarism is an unacceptable and growing threat to academic integrity and a threat to the very
foundations of the academic system. This threat is especially true in a world where Information
Technology has made copying information easier. The problem needs to be recognized and tools need
to be developed which are readily available to identify plagiarized work.
The editors of the Transactions seek quality original contributions, not currently under review by
other journals, which address these issues. Papers are encouraged that investigate the root causes of
plagiarism and suggest new ways of counteracting these causes. The papers must present sound methodologies
that are supported by verifiable statistical evidence. Prospective authors should consult the Transactions’
web site at
www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/es/ToE-manuscript.html for information about the scope of Transactions and
manuscript preparation.
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically to the Transactions’ Manuscript Central web site at
te-ieee.manuscriptcentral.comno later than
1 January 2007, selecting “Special Issue” as “Manuscript Type” in the corresponding menu.
For further information contact one of the following Special Issue Editors.
Ian G. Kennedy University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
i.kennedy@ee.wits.ac.za
Robin M. Braun University of Technology
Sydney Ultimo, NSW Australia
Robin.Braun@uts.edu.au
Okyay Kaynak Bogazici University
Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey
okyay.kaynak@boun.edu.tr
Please note that the papers for the issue are subject to final approval by the Editor in Chief. Some papers may be published outside the Special Issue, at his discretion.
Special Issue Schedule:
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 January 2007
Notification of Review Evaluation: 31 March 2007
Author Revision Due by: 31 May 2007
Notification of Acceptance if Major Revision Required: 31 July 2007
Accepted Manuscripts Due for Editorial Review: 31 August 2007
Manuscript Packet Information Sent to Author: 30 September 2007
Manuscript Packet Due from Author to Editor: 31 October 2007
