Did everyone just get this
“ An Apology
Dear (name)
Last week, as a student member who sat our examinations in September 2020, you received a note from us related to plagiarism and collusion. The note did not communicate our intended message appropriately, nor did it meet the standards we strive to hold ourselves to in communicating with our members. I am sorry for this misunderstanding and apologise for any confusion or concern that this may have caused. Please be reassured that we will improve future communications with student members to ensure that both the message and tone are clear and appropriate.
As context, following our first online ‘open book’ examinations in April 2020, our employer contacts requested an update on processes for the September session, including indicative timing for individuals receiving letters outlining ‘causes for concern’ related to examination scripts. These employers had the best interests of their student employees in mind when they made this request, wishing to be prepared to support individuals who might receive such letters from the IFoA.
A note was sent to all employer contacts last week – containing no personal information related to individual candidates – and, as a matter of courtesy, we wanted you to have the same information. However, we quickly realised that the note you all received could be interpreted as the IFoA initiating an investigation process against those receiving it for plagiarism and/or collusion.
This was not our intention and I am genuinely sorry for any anxiety that our communication may have caused. Concerns related to plagiarism and collusion arise in an extremely small proportion of each session’s examination scripts, and we regret that many recipients of last week’s note were left thinking that their examination scripts were ‘causing the IFoA concern’.
For further reassurance, unless we have already contacted you individually, we have no issues about possible plagiarism during your September examinations. However, as last week’s note indicated, we are yet to contact candidates where we continue to have concerns about possible collusion. We expect a relatively small number of candidates to begin receiving such letters this week, with all remaining letters received by the middle of next week.
I would also like to thank those who, having received the note, posted on social media to make clear that it was a general communication to all candidates, rather than an allegation of inappropriate conduct against the recipients. You helped immeasurably to relieve the initial concern of those receiving the message.
Once again, we look forward to continuously improving our future service to you. Thank you for your feedback, understanding on this matter, and continued support of the IFoA.
Yours sincerely,
Clifford Friend
Director of Engagement and Learning”