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Dear students, The second semester, when testing of your knowledge takes place online, is challenging for students and also for all teachers. Online testing enables fraudulent behaviour to a much greater extent. In particular, illegal communication during exams is very difficult to reveal, which frustrates a lot of teachers. Recently, there have been reports that teachers under false profiles infiltrate student groups, where they even actively encourage fraud and then they send students in front of a disciplinary committee. The management of Mendel University in Brno is not aware that the teachers of our university would resort to this action and would definitely discourage them from doing so. If a teacher misled the students (for example by using a false profile), then his/her actions would be in conflict with the MENDELU Ethics Code. The relationship between teachers and students must be based on mutual trust and respect. Recently, the disciplinary committees have dealt with dozens of cases of exam fraud. In no case teachers obtained information in a way that could be classified as a fraud or unethical. Here are some examples that may have been the beginning of stories that spread through the student community:

• During the correction, teachers discovered very similar solutions for several students. After subsequent confrontation, the students confessed the illegal communication.
• A student copied test solution sent to him by his classmate. In a hurry, however, he did not notice that he also copied the sender’s name and time when the message was sent.
• A student – a member of a Facebook group, who witnessed illegal communication during an exam, reported this fraudulent behaviour to his teachers and provided them with all documents.

We realize that in the online world, it is impossible to 100% prevent cheating, but we take it seriously. Teachers try to prevent it as much as possible, and if such behaviour occurs, they solve it according to valid regulations. However, the best prevention is motivated students who are aware of the importance of knowledge for practice and do not want to cheat at all. You may be a little confused when and how you can communicate with your classmates and when this communication is no longer allowed. Unauthorized communication during exams can mean disciplinary action, which everyone certainly wants to avoid. What is allowed:

• Communicate with classmates outside the exam in any way.
• Ask about solution of particular tasks.
• Clarify conditions for finishing the course.
• Exchange your impressions and experience with other students.

What is not allowed:

• Communicate during exams, unless the teacher explicitly allows communication.
• Share test instructions without teacher´s approval.
• Cooperate to solve individual tasks.

Remember that there is a lot of misleading information among student groups. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to use official groups of subjects that are moderated by teachers. Thanks to them, you can be sure that you will learn accurate information and right solutions. On behalf of the university management, I wish you a lot of success in your studies. Prof. Ing. Radim Farana, CSc. FEng. Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs MENDELU