Academic integrity is a fundamental value of learning, teaching and scholarship. The Centre for Academic Integrity (CAI), a consortium of more than 200 colleges and universities in the USA, has produced a document known as the 'Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity' which examines the core values of academic integrity in detail. This organisation defines academic integrity as a "commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action." According to this document, an academic community of integrity

• advances the quest for truth and knowledge by enquiring intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service.
• fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential.
• establishes clear standards, practices, and procedures and expects fairness in the interactions of students, faculty, and administrators.
• recognises the participatory nature of the learning process and honours and respects a wide range of opinions and ideas.
• upholds personal accountability and depends upon action in the face of wrongdoing.

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