Search Page

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.