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The head of an Israeli company that served as the Israeli branch of the University of Latvia and Burlington College was sentenced to 30 months in jail. He was accused of bribing members of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and other public officials and also of selling degrees to public officials for promotion and pay-increase purposes.

According to the study, "Fake Universities and Bogus Degrees – Sweden and the World", there has been an increase in the number of job seekers who have been caught trying to pass off fake degrees as genuine, with more than 30 cases reported in the last two years. According to the National Agency for Higher Education, there exists over 800 Web-based fake universities. The study recommends use of a digital database that employers can access to verify an applicant's qualifications, something into which Australia is already looking.

Revolutions, reforms and allegations of corruption marked the education sector in 2004 and the first half of 2005 in many countries in the post-communist region. Accusations of widespread bribery in grading and admissions were rampant, especially in Central Asia.

GetEducated.com, an online degree clearinghouse founded by Phillips in 1989, tracks more than 200 fake online colleges in the USA alone, twice that many abroad. The sale of fake degrees, which at an average cost less than 500 dollars per diploma, has become a multi-million dollar business. A fake degree is a fast, cheap way to quality for high paying employment. Search engines accept listing from colleges without screening for accreditation.

The report from Transparency International evaluates the bribes versed to construction contracts in the world to over 300 billions of dollars. Some thirty billions are promised for the reconstruction of Iraq and around 10 billions of dollars are aimed to the reconstruction of South-East Asian countries hit by the tsunami last December.

OECD has, since 1997, been engaged in the fight against corruption among foreign public servants in international transactions. As such, the institution organized last November a conference on the promotion of integrity in the public market. One suggestion is to establish a "Black list" over companies that are or have been involved in corruption.

Corruption in higher education is not a topic much discussed in academic circles. Yet, corruption in various manifestations is an element of higher education in many parts of the world. It is time to open a discussion of the meaning and scope of corruption since it seems to be an expanding phenomenon, especially in parts of the world facing severe economic hardships. Academic institutions in these countries come under extreme pressure to provide access and degrees to ensure success in difficult economic circumstances.

TI Corruption Perception Index 2004 ranks a record of 146 countries; most oil-producing nations are prone to high corruption.

A spokes-person at the World Bank refutes that 100 million dollars were embezzled but acknowledges the problem of corruption.

The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee says World Bank corruption may exceed $100 billion; the institution has reacted, but more must be done.