In the media

A report by Dublin City University Anti-Corruption Research Centre found that up to 11 per cent of adults have been asked for sexual acts by public servants or know someone who has been. The study highlights that women and minority groups are more vulnerable, and that factors like discretionary power and lack of transparency in these sectors contribute to the problem.

Moldova will introduce a national anti-plagiarism system to check all bachelor’s and master’s theses starting this year, following an investigation into the buying and selling of academic papers. The Ministry of Education launched internal reviews, involved law enforcement, and called for parliamentary hearings with multiple state institutions to address academic fraud. Officials describe plagiarism as a serious issue undermining higher education and plan stricter laws, including possible annulment of fraudulent diplomas.

Academic integrity becomes a mandatory criterion in the evaluation of educational institutions in Moldova. The new regulations impose the establishment of strict policies against plagiarism and academic fraud. The measures apply to all study programs within the institutions of technical vocational education, higher education, and adult education to meet accreditation standards. They include mechanisms for prevention, identification, and sanctioning of deviations, as well as information and training programs for pupils, students, trainees, and teaching staff.

To address corruption in Ukraine’s education sector, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention has held an event to publish its “Education Integrity Development Strategy for 2026–2030”. The campaign aims to instil a culture of honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour across all levels of education. It plans concrete reforms, including updating teaching materials and teacher training in integrity.

A nationwide survey by England’s Office for Students revealed alarming levels of sexual misconduct in universities: 14% of students reported sexual violence, one in four faced harassments. Women and LGBTQ+ students were disproportionately affected. With 52,000 responses, this is the first sector-wide data, prompting calls for stronger prevention, training, and accountability measures.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Moldova’s National Anticorruption Center hosted the “Anti-Corruption Café,” engaging officials and 45 young volunteers to discuss fighting corruption in the education sector. A “Pro-Integrity Test” reinforced awareness, supporting broader efforts to strengthen integrity and accountability in education.

Albania’s Ministry of Education introduced a new Code of Ethics for Teachers, emphasizing professionalism, integrity, and cooperation. Drafted collectively with teachers, parents, and administrators, it sets standards for student safety, inclusion, transparency, and digital conduct.

In Belgium, three students were caught using ChatGPT during the Flemish medical entrance exam, the first explicitly recorded AI fraud-scandal in this context. This year’s passing rate (47%) for the exam was unusually high. Universities are taking varied approaches, prohibiting AI in exams, but also introducing training, clearer guidelines, and new assessment methods to ensure students use these tools responsibly.

A withdrawal of statistics on exam adjustments by England’s exam regulator reveals that previously published figures overstated the number of students receiving extra time. The revision underscores the need for transparency and precise data management to inform public debate, especially on support for students with special educational needs.

A survey found almost 7,000 proven UK university student AI misuse cases for cheating in 2023-24 (5.1 per 1,000), against 1.6 in previous studies. Cases are projected to hit 7.5 per 1,000. Balancing AI's benefits and challenges remains difficult. The government is investing over £187m in skills programs, issuing guidance on AI use in schools.