As part of my ongoing commitment to improving education standards, I recently conducted a hands-on training session for the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) staff on using the Turnitin plagiarism checker tool.
With research being a critical component across all academic programs, ensuring originality and proper citation of sources is crucial. Plagiarism, unfortunately, continues to be a challenge that erodes academic integrity. Technology tools like Turnitin allow universities to scan student submissions and detect potential plagiarized content proactively.
In my training attended by over 20 IUIU faculty and administrators, I provided comprehensive instruction on setting up Turnitin, creating assignments, allowing student uploads, interpreting originality reports, and using advanced features. We conducted hands-on practice with real sample documents to give the attendees practical experience with the system.
I also created and provided a PDF tutorial covering all aspects of using Turnitin so those who missed the session or want an easy reference guide can access the information.
Feedback after the training was overwhelmingly positive, with the attendees noting how valuable the skills gained would be in improving research quality and academic standards. They felt empowered to introduce and monitor Turnitin usage across papers, theses, dissertations, and other critical student works. I also provided additional resources and my direct contact for future support.
While this initial training was focused on equipping the staff and faculty, there are plans in place also to provide student training sessions in the near future. Teaching students directly on Turnitin usage and academic integrity best practices will further improve research quality.
Providing this training aligns perfectly with my passion for enhancing education in Africa by equipping faculty with the latest tools and know-how. As an experienced instructor currently completing doctoral studies, I understand the immense benefits platforms like Turnitin provide in enforcing academic integrity policies. The skills I imparted during this IUIU training will no doubt start making a positive impact right away for both educators and students alike.