In the media

Universities are expected to promote ethics and integrity, yet they are also vulnerable to corruption. This article explores the key drivers and forms of corruption in higher education, including admissions fraud, academic misconduct, political interference, financial abuse, and sexual corruption and examines how these practices undermine trust, fairness, and educational quality.

Eswatini is stepping up efforts to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence in higher education through stronger collaboration between government, universities and civil society. Stakeholders reviewed research showing that one in four women aged 19–24 has experienced sexual violence, with university students facing a significantly higher risk of sexual assault and discussed strategies to create safer learning environments.

Generative AI is now widely used across higher education, shifting the challenge from adopting AI to governing it responsibly. Universities should establish clear rules for AI in areas such as teaching, admissions, hiring, procurement, and research, while ensuring transparency, oversight, and accountability. Strong governance enables institutions to safely expand AI use and adapt education for an AI-driven future.

More than 2.4 million students across Türkiye sat the nationwide Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), the country's annual university entrance exam. Held over two days in 254 test centers across all 81 provinces and Northern Cyprus, the exam was conducted under strict security measures. Candidates were required to present identification documents and exam entry papers, while test center gates were closed shortly before the start of each session.

Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has released a draft circular introducing 19 standards for higher education institutions, which would replace the current 2024 regulations if approved. The proposal aligns with the 2025 Law on Higher Education and aims to strengthen university autonomy, transparency, and accountability by shifting oversight from input controls to evaluating quality, performance, and outcomes.

Universities and research institutions across North America and Europe have built extensive ethics policies and compliance systems, but ethical failures persist because these systems are fragmented, reactive, and focused on managing risk rather than preventing problems. Instead of relying mainly on rules and procedures, institutions should foster an ethical culture where concerns can be raised early, judgment is valued alongside compliance, and responsibility is shared across the organization.

When corruption in higher education makes headlines, it is usually through scandal: bribery in admissions, fraudulent diplomas, manipulated accreditation decisions or misconduct in research funding. International organizations play a key role in addressing these issues by promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity. Their efforts must move beyond creating guidelines toward enforcing reforms, using evidence to guide decisions, and linking funding and partnerships to strong governance standards.

The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities has announced the exclusion of dozens of universities from its upcoming July 2026 edition for promoting fabricated data and inflated positions derived from using ‘predatory’ websites that are copycat rankings sites. According to a ranking editor, the action is intended to protect research integrity and discourage unethical practices such as using fabricated rankings for promotion.

Plagiarism in academic contexts presents a substantial ethical challenge within the field of publishing that affects faculty members and students. A study surveyed 291 postgraduate students to assess awareness of academic plagiarism. Results showed that plagiarism awareness increases with academic level and year of study, with PhD students demonstrating significantly higher awareness than Master’s students.

Seventeen university students in Tanzania have appeared in court over allegations of forging documents to obtain loans from the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB). This case is part of a wider effort to combat fraud in the student loan system, which aims to ensure that government funds reach eligible students in need. HESLB has strengthened verification procedures and is working with other institutions to detect and prosecute offenders. If found guilty, the students could face legal penalties, academic consequences, and long-term impacts on their futures.