In the media

A former top official at South Africa's Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA), was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and forgery. The official who resigned before his 2015 arrest, was convicted of faking engineering qualifications and a job offer, which led PRASA to nearly double his salary. He was sentenced for three counts of fraud, including a deal that resulted in the purchase of unusable locomotives.

A recent Institute for East European Studies study highlights the significant threat hijacked journals pose to scientific integrity. The research reveals that papers in these journals exhibit extremely high levels of plagiarism, with 66% of the sample containing plagiarized content. Most of these papers come from authors in developing countries, suggesting that weaker ethical norms and research practices contribute to the problem.

A Control Yuan investigation revealed that National Taiwan University (NTU) failed to protect students from sexual harassment adequately and mishandled related complaints. The investigation found multiple harassment incidents involving an associate professor and a dormitory supervisor. Despite being aware of a sexual harassment allegation against the supervisor, NTU did not take timely or effective action to separate the supervisor from the affected student, leading to further issues.

Corruption affects all aspects of educational planning and management. This includes the financing of schools, the recruitment, promotion and appointment of teachers, the construction of school buildings, the purchase and distribution of equipment and textbooks, and access to university. Corruption restricts access to education at all levels, from pre-school to university. It hinders the quality of learning, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds being the main victims.

The existing fragmented and unaccountable structures of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) perpetuate dysfunction, corruption, and exploitation, betraying the trust of South Africa’s most vulnerable students and undermining the integrity of its higher education system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, funds intended for vulnerable populations were misappropriated.

The Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions Students’ Organisation (TAHLISO) has warned that fraudulent education agents are sending Tanzanian students to unaccredited universities abroad. TAHLISO’s secretary general called for stronger oversight from education authorities. Reports highlighted the case of a student who lost TZS8 million to such scams. Experts criticize the inadequate monitoring of these agents requesting for collaboration between government, educational institutions, and international bodies to protect students.

Cheating in school is an age-old problem, but new technologies have made it easier. Mobile phones in particular allow students to peek at notes during exams, text their friends for homework answers, or even use AI apps to solve a problem. Educators and institutions are deploying various measures to combat cheating. But is it enough to safeguard the integrity of exams?

In an analysis carried out jointly by the Publications Ethics Committee and the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers, over half of the 3,440 articles submitted over a two-year period were found to be fake. Open science practices, such as pre-registration of study plans and registered reports could promote transparency and accountability. Recognizing the importance of peer review and rewarding reviewers can also strengthen academic integrity and reduce the proliferation of suspect articles.

A senior law student at Istanbul Bilgi University faced disciplinary action for allegedly using AI, ChatGPT to cheat on an exam. The student’s legal battle ended in suspension, causing financial and emotional distress. The case highlights the challenges of AI in maintaining academic integrity and the need for clearer policies.

To combat certificate forgery in Higher Education, Libya joined the Unified Arab System for Blockchain-based Certificate Authentication. This initiative, spearheaded by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), provides a reliable method for verifying academic qualifications. Experts advocate for similar systems across Africa to strengthen hiring practices and ensure credential credibility. They suggest leveraging blockchain technology and collaborating with international organizations for widespread implementation.