Palm Institute is the second university in Ghana and Africa to adopt the Honour System which includes the Examination Honour Code.
Ashesi University was the first. On the 20th April 2021, Palm Institute’s mentor university, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) gave clearance for the adoption of the Honour System at Palm Institute after almost a yearlong mentoring process.
This marks a very significant milestone in the history of Palm Institute. This aligns with Palm’s mission of “educating ethical and excellent leaders with integrity for corporate, national, and continental creativity, innovation, service, and sustainability in Africa.”
The Honour System is an arrangement by which individuals are trusted to act on their honour. In other words, individuals within the community are expected to act honestly and walk-in integrity; having decided to do the right thing when no one is looking or watching.
By adopting the Honour System and the Examination Honour Code, Palm Institute would be emulating the example of universities like Princeton University, the College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia and Ashesi University that have successfully adopted and implemented the Honour System and the Examination Honour Code for several decades (in the case of Princeton University).
Adopting an Honour System means Palm faculty, staff and students will not engage in any form of corrupt enticement.
They will take ownership of the Palm mission of educating ethical leaders and intentionally deny their colleagues the opportunity to cheat or act unethically or dishonestly thereby protecting the integrity of Palm and its high quality of education.
Current and future classes of students at Palm Institute will be given the choice to vote to adopt the Honour System after discussions with fellow students, faculty and staff.
These discussions will occur during the freshman/freshwoman year (first & second semester). This will enable a particular class of students to ‘own’ its adoption. For adoptions, a two-thirds majority (2/3) of students must vote in favour of the Honour System. If a class chooses not to adopt the Honour System, that particular class will write their examinations under proctoring, supervision and invigilation.
That class has then opted to operate outside the Palm Honour System.