The Cambridge Dictionary defines plagiarism as;
‘the process or practice of using another person’s ideas or work and pretending that it is your own’.
When writing your AssocRICS or APC final assessment submission, plagiarism is an absolute no. It contravenes the Rule 1 of the RICS Rules of Conduct and is not conduct expected of a RICS professional.
In the RICS APC Candidate Guide, RICS confirm that they use Turnitin, an online system to ensure that candidates are submitting their own work. This includes comparing the submission against past submissions submitted by other candidates, as well as resources available online.
You can read more about how Turnitin works online.
We would suggest extreme caution is applied if you are considering using any AI or Chat GPT assistance when writing your submission or summarising key points. We recommend always writing your own work to ensure it reflects your work, personality and professionalism – not someone else’s, or a computer’s.
If the Turnitin system identifies a red flag of plagiarism (see the plagiarism spectrum for types of plagiarism that it may pick up), RICS will investigate the matter further. This could result in disciplinary action, exclusion from the APC process and potential expulsion from RICS. It is not a risk worth taking.
Here is a recent example of plagiarism detected and dealt with by RICS through a Disciplinary Panel Hearing and case.
Rizwan Kalideen [6803918] – Disciplinary Panel Hearing (August 2024) – this case centred on a preliminary review submission, where Appendix A of the case study duplicated what another candidate had submitted just a year earlier. Disciplinary action was taken under RICS Bye-law 5.2.2 (c) and the candidate was expelled from being a current APC candidate and future professional member of RICS. An order was also made to cost, although the quantum of this is not confirmed.
Other Disciplinary Panel Hearings have been held over the years regarding plagiarism, including the following:
It is worth reading both decisions in full to understand the extent of the plagiarism and how RICS considered each case.
All APC and AssocRICS candidates and student members should be aware that when they enrol or join RICS, they are agreeing to be bound by the RICS Royal Charter, Bye-Laws, Regulations and Rules of Conduct. This is a substantial undertaking and we recommend that all candidates and student members read and understand what they are signing up to upon enrolment. It is not a light commitment! This point was confirmed as a preliminary matter in the second case referred to above.
Plagiarism can, however, be a result of a lack of knowledge, understanding or skills. If you are struggling to write your submission in your own words, reflect on why this might be the case. Is it that you don’t have the right examples to write about, so you are turning to the experience of other candidates instead? Or, do you not know how to explain a complex piece of legislation or process in your own words? If you recognise your own challenges here, then we recommend speaking with your Counsellor or a Property Elite mentor. Both will be able to help you to write your submission in your own words, including identifying (or gaining) relevant experience and explaining key knowledge in simple, concise terms.
Never!
And, our final word on the matter – plagiarism just isn’t worth the risk. Get the support you need to write your own work and be proud of what you can produce. Don’t use AI or Chat GPT to cheat the system, and don’t spend money on companies who promise to write your work ‘plagiarism free’. Your career is on the line…
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