Search Page

Students who cheat in exams could now face fines of up to AED200,000.

The conviction of an executive from an unregistered university marks a significant step in Malawi's efforts to combat illegal higher education institutions. The official operating unregistered universities was fined and faces imprisonment for offering fake qualifications. While civil society organizations advocate for more arrests and consequences for employers recognizing qualifications from such institutions, the conviction underscores the importance of regulatory enforcement to maintain educational integrity. Calls for a National Qualification Authority Bill aim to strengthen regulatory frameworks, yet progress remains uncertain.

A committee in Nigeria, led by the Minister of Education, is investigating degree racketeering and degree mills. Affiliated institutions in several countries are under scrutiny. The committee seeks to address breaches in the accreditation process for both local and foreign universities, following revelations of fraudulent practices highlighted in an investigative report. Experts suggest improving accreditation processes and public awareness to combat the issue.

The former Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has welcomed the Ministry of Education's decision to ask parents to pay school fees for students in national schools via the e-Citizen platform. This new government initiative aims to improve service delivery, bring transparency and protect both students and parents. However, some are expressing concern about the practical challenges and the country's state of readiness for such a digital transition

The Indian government has introduced the Anti-Cheating in Public Examinations Bill to combat rampant academic dishonesty and preserve the integrity of the education system. The Bill proposes strict measures such as increased surveillance, stricter rules for invigilators and severe penalties for cheating such as 10 years' imprisonment and a of ₹1 crore for those involved in exam malpractice. Additionally, the bill aims to establish a national technical committee to enhance exam security and fairness.

In the last three years, corruption suspicions in the Sindh School Education Department prompted investigations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the FIA's anti-corruption wing. Issues include overpriced biometric machines, questionable contracts, and undisclosed transactions. A two-member inquiry board is looking into complaints from professors. Cases of corruption in the college education department, including funds for activities like digital libraries and teacher training, remain unresolved.

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.

Five universities in the United States agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing them of colluding on financial aid and admissions violations, according to new court filings. Yale, Columbia, Duke, Brown and Emory universities will pay a combined US$104.5 million to settle their portions of the case, which was brought by five former students against more than a dozen schools. The suit alleges the universities violated antitrust law when they ignored their pledge to not weigh a student’s ability to pay tuition fees when considering whether or not to accept, a practice referred to as ‘need-blind’ admission.

China's Ministry of Science and Technology has released new guidelines on the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scientific research to enhance scientific integrity and reduce misconduct. The rules ban the direct use of generative AI tools for research funding applications, requiring clear labelling of AI-generated content. The guidelines address challenges arising from rapid AI development, emphasizing responsible research conduct.

To preserve the integrity of education, the Minister of Education has announced the randomization of questions in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). This measure aims to combat cheating, strengthen the integrity of the examination and ensure the credibility of the results. This measure follows the cancellation of the results of 3,500 students by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for misconduct.