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A global surge in fraudulent research papers, exceeding 10,000 retractions last year, has become an international scandal. Originating in China, the issue has spread to other regions, with "paper mills" producing fabricated studies. Bribes to editors and infiltration of fraudulent agents exacerbate the problem. Major publishers are taking action, but financial incentives for researchers to publish persist. The escalating prevalence of sham science is eroding the foundation of trustworthy scientific knowledge, prompting calls for systematic solutions to address this growing threat to the integrity of research.

The Bureau of the Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Education is discussing the creation of a European observatory for ethical integrity and transparency in Higher Education, a landmark initiative against educational fraud. The observatory aims to tackle the growing problem of fake diplomas with objectives such as data collection, promotion of ethical practices, prevention of corruption and international cooperation. Despite bureaucratic, financial and legal challenges, this initiative offers considerable potential benefits for the quality and reputation of higher education in Europe.

Two teachers from Dlumana High School in Manyeleti, Mpumalanga, and Tuscany Glen High School in Cape Town were dismissed for their involvement in a matric exam cheating scandal. The Mpumalanga teacher posted answers to a life sciences paper on WhatsApp during the 2022 exams, while the Cape Town teacher forwarded exam questions to students via WhatsApp. This incident is part of a broader cheating scandal involving 935 pupils.

The University of Regina (U of R) has observed a surge in cheating cases, particularly in its Nursing Program, during final exams. Around 50 out of 1,200 nursing students are under investigation for academic integrity concerns. Factors contributing to this increase include students' unfamiliarity with exam regulations due to pandemic-related disruptions and improper use of Artificial Intelligence tools. Penalties for academic misconduct range from warnings to expulsion.

In Pakistan, urgent reforms are needed to protect academic integrity and prevent the exploitation of marginalized individuals by those in power. Instances abound of professors, policy experts, and retired state officials plagiarizing the work of assistants, students, and junior professionals. For instance, at a prestigious institution in Islamabad, a Star Professor plagiarized the work of a former student and colleague and escaped consequences due to institutional support.

A recent investigation by Science Magazine exposes a rise of paper mills resorting to bribery and corruption to secure publication of fake or substandard papers. These organizations pay off journal editors, leading to a network of deceitful practices that threaten the integrity of scholarly publishing. The investigation reveals widespread involvement of editors and prestigious institutions in accepting bribes. Such unethical practices bypass the peer-review process, undermining the quality and reliability of published research.

The incidence of plagiarism in personal statements submitted by students for British university applications has doubled in the last two years, with India having the highest number of such cases among international applicants. According to a spokesperson from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 7,300 applications were flagged for plagiarism in 2023, with 765 from India, compared to 3,559 flagged in 2021.

Following a report exposing the widespread issue of fake degrees in Nigeria's academic institutions, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee to investigate this matter. 107 local private universities that have operated in the past 15 years will be scrutinized. A journalist revealed that a Bachelor's degree can be obtained in six weeks without attending classes.

Students can utilize chatbots like ChatGPT to generate text, with nearly 90% admitting to doing so in one survey. However, this form of plagiarism, known as ghostwriting, is becoming more detectable as Artificial Intelligence-powered tools like Turnitin and iThenticate improve their ability to identify copied content. Some students attempt to evade detection by using text-spinning programs to paraphrase plagiarized material, but this has led to an ongoing "arms race" between cheaters and detection methods.