Together accountable for 700,000 licenses
SURF has successfully completed the tender for plagiarism control software with 40 participating institutions. Eric de Groot, contract and supplier manager at the VU and information analyst Roy Lübbers of Hanze University Groningen were both part of the core team for this tender.
The fact that there was a tender for plagiarism software does not mean that there is widespread fraud. 'It's just part of life in this day and age. There is a lot of material available online and you want to prevent plagiarism,' says De Groot. According to Lübbers, as a teacher you have to be able to check whether the work is original. Especially when you attach a grade or a degree to that work. As an instructor, you don't want to put your own reputation or that of the institution up for grabs.'
Eric de Groot, contract and supplier manager at the VU
The fact that there was a tender for plagiarism software does not mean that fraud is taking place on a large scale. "It's just part and parcel of our times. A lot of material is available online and you want to prevent plagiarism," says De Groot. According to Lübbers, as a teacher you have to be able to check whether it is original work. 'Especially when you attach a grade or degree to that work. As a teacher you don't want to destroy your own reputation or that of the institution'.
"Together you have more knowledge and you are stronger on the market with several parties. And there were no less than 40 of us."
Good mix of knowledge and experience
Lübbers and De Groot were both part of the core team in the tender. An intensive and instructive process according to Lübbers. "Among other things, you have to establish a whole program of wishes and requirements. That is quite a tough job. And with this subject you have to deal with many legal aspects such as copyright and privacy. Fortunately, we had a lawyer as project leader". De Groot is proud of the result and sees it as a result of the quality and diversity of the core team. "We had a team of 9 people with a very good mix of knowledge and experience. I really see that as a prerequisite for succes.
Returning to the essence
Roy Lübbers, information analyst at Hanzehogeschool Groningen
Lübbers looks back with particular enthusiasm at the team's drive. Everyone has done his or her bit. That also ensures that such an intensive process remains manageable. De Groot has experienced it as positive that the core team operated beyond the boundaries of the institution. Everyone was prepared to step over their own shadows. In the past I've experienced that differently. According to De Groot, Allard Naber of the RUG and Roy Lübbers were the top members of the core team. Both are very knowledgeable and able to return to the essence during each phase. That is worth its weight in gold.' There are also possible points of improvement for the future. For example, this process had a false start because not all the tenders were correct. In addition, an even better distribution of roles and tasks within the project team could further optimize a tendering process.
All educational institutions benefit
Nevertheless, joint tendering is an absolute must for both of them. "Together we account for no less than 700,000 licenses. That's another reason why we won a lot of quality. And both large and small institutions benefit from this. So together we really are stronger." says Lübbers. De Groot can hardly imagine not participating in a joint tender. "Because that means that you don't use the services of an organization, in this case SURF, of which you are a member and which you pay for. How irrational is that?