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During the annual conference of the European Association for International Education, an expert stated that fraud in international higher education is a $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion business. He claimed that fraud is a pervasive problem and defined it broadly, situating various forms of it on a spectrum of severity – from resume embellishment, on the low end, to full-scale identity fraud on the high end.

Turkey has suspended its recognition of Bulgarian university diplomas. The Turkish University Education Council made this decision on the grounds of high levels of academic forgery, fraud and exam cheating in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's Education Minister has admonished the Bulgarian media for provoking an international scandal, claiming that the problematic diplomas were forged by Turkish citizens.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in conjunction with the National Universities Commission, NUC, is set to beam its searchlight on corrupt practices in the Nigerian universities over a chain of petitions received by the anti-graft commission. Abuses highlighted include admission processes, conduct of examinations, appointments and promotion of staff, and manipulation and falsification of academic records such as transcripts.

Once comprehensively surveyed, the magnitude and reach of fraud is becoming clear. For example, research suggests that the majority of applications from a number of large student-sending countries are either significantly embellished or outright fraudulent. As a result, tens of thousands of international students, having passed through visa and admissions systems, are enrolled all over the world based on school transcripts, financial support statements, recommendation letters or test scores that are untrue.

A journalist from the Mail and Guardian reveals the growing trend of fake degrees, provided by Ashford University and Belford University, which offer life experience qualifications on a fee-only basis, without the need for training or study. These documents are available on the Internet and are being included on resumes at all levels of the employment sector.

An exposé in the Russian edition of Esquire has roiled education and health officials here by detailing the corruption at six medical schools. The magazine in April published nine short articles by medical students describing the various ways they can pay professors in exchange for passing tests.