In this fascinating episode, De Montfort University's Nikki Welyczko provides a enlightening insight into the phenomenon of contract cheating. Nikki helps us to define clearly what contract cheating is, its most common forms, the extent of contract cheating in UK HE, and the trends which may underpin it. Nikki also shares some important ideas on how we can battle contract cheating and also gives her view on the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the potential implications for academic misconduct. This episode is a must for anyone interested in learning, teaching and assessment. 

Nikki Welyczko is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of School at the Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery at De Montfort University. As a key member of the School and Faculty’s leadership teams, Nikki works closely with the Head of School in providing strategic direction and academic leadership for the Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, making a significant contribution to Faculty and University priorities. She is an experienced DMU Teacher Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Nikki Chairs the School Learning and Teaching Group (SLTG), the Pre and Post Registration Programme Management Boards and is Deputy Chair Nursing and Midwifery Single Tier Assessment Board. A key focus of Nikki’s role is on quality and the continuing development of innovative learning, teaching and assessment activities across the School, Faculty and University. She represents the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS) at the University Learning and Teaching Committee (ULTC) as a Teaching and Learning Champion and is a Pedagogic Champion for the Centre for Academic Innovation and Teaching Excellence (CAITE). She established and leads the University’s Contract Cheating Working Group and represents DMU at the Midlands Integrity Group.

During the sixteen years Nikki has worked at DMU, she has held several key School and Faculty leadership roles. She has experience in module, programme and senior academic leadership and has been involved in the development and design of innovative curricula that enhance learning and teaching and ensure optimum student experience. She is an experienced external examiner, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) quality reviewer and has also fulfilled the role of external advisor/panel member on multiple occasions for other HEIs. Nikki is an academic reviewer for several nursing publications and publishes regularly for Gastrointestinal Nursing and the Journal of Kidney Care. She is a member of the Nursing Standard’s Art a Science Advisory Panel and networks nationally with a range of academics and senior clinical practitioners advising about publishing content. Nikki is currently in the process of submitting her PhD: ‘Exploring resilience in pre-registration undergraduate nursing students: A constructivist grounded theory study’.