CQU's Professor Alan Knight has been advising a Chinese university on how to deal with plagiarism.

Professor Knight spent 5 years chairing the University's Appeal Committee which has the final say on cheating cases at CQU.

He was invited to speak at Shantou University, which recently made Chinese national headlines when it sacked an academic staff member for plagiarism.

Shantou has introduced English language Journalism degrees, including a new Masters program.

Professor Knight addressed about 400 students and staff about giving intellectual credit where it was due.

He said that CQU was recognised for its significant experience in helping students meet international standards of academic work.

"Plagiarism and other forms of cheating destroy the credibility on which our reputations are constructed," he said.

"Widespread cheating erodes the brand name of the whole academic institution where it takes place, thereby undermining the employment value of the programs students work so hard to complete," Professor Knight said.

Professor Knight's visit was sponsored by Professor Chen Wah Ying, Hong Kong University's Director of Journalism Studies.