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The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has arrested the Rector of the University of Lampung for allegedly receiving IDR5 billion (US$336,000) in bribes from the families of students who failed the university entrance exams known as the autonomous admissions scheme. According to KPK, the ‘autonomous channel’ exam conducted by universities is vulnerable to bribery due to a lack of transparency and specific guidelines from the Ministry of Education, leaving state universities unsupervised.

The new national agency for the evaluation and accreditation of Higher Education institutions and research centres in Tunisia aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s universities and develop a research system of international quality. However, the Union of Tunisian University teachers criticised the establishment of the agency and called on the Ministry to be transparent and explain how the agency will be funded, at what cost to taxpayers, and what accountability mechanism will be used to stop the wastage of public money and nepotism.

A recent study in Kenya found that 68% of respondents had engaged in some form of misconduct, while 36% admitted that they had engaged in the more serious breaches of fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism. To promote ethical research practices, transparency, equity, accountability and rigour across the continent, the African Research Integrity Network (ARIN) has been launched. It will be registered in different countries where nodes will be established.

Reforms are needed to increase transparency in the management of private universities that absorb 80% of university students in the country. The Ministry of Education reform proposal, which is awaiting deliberation, would enhance the powers of the board of trustees responsible for key university management decisions and which, under the government's proposals, will be composed only of outsiders. This is a major change from the current role of the board, which is facilitating cover-ups of malpractice.

To prevent the forging of information, a new digital platform will allow learners from primary to university levels to have an identification number. Schools will update data about their learners, teaching and non-teaching staff, infrastructure and facilities including physical education and sports through their online EMIS user accounts. The new system is aimed to eliminate ghost workers and improve transparency and accountability across the country.

The University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana and the University of Rwanda have been the only African public universities providing reports including information such as the university structure, number and qualifications of academic and support staff, total enrolment, and the number of graduates. These reports are a model for universities to adopt and a means of promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability amongst faculty members, staff, students, and communities.