Higher Education Corruption Monitor
Corruption is defined as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain" (Transparency International). In higher education, corruption is also 鈥榯he lack of academic integrity鈥�. Corruption might take place in different countries and at different kinds of universities: public and private, mass and elite. Corruption might be monetary and non-monetary or it might take different forms, ranging from bribes and misuse of university funds to fake degrees, plagiarism, ghostwriting and cheating. Corruption might take place with or without the students鈥� involvement.
The main goal of the Higher Education Corruption Monitor is to collect and systemize news and research on various types of corruption as well as on anti-corruption policies and initiatives from all around the world. The Monitor will not seek to verify each item placed on its website, but will make every effort to choose reputable information.聽
The Monitor is managed by CIHE research fellow Elena Denisova-Schmidt.
Disclaimer:聽The links posted here are provided as an informational service only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any specific website or content.
Corruption in General
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Bulgarian portal dedicated to corruption and anti-corruption measures and policies in the country. It provides information about the media coverage of specific corruption cases in Bulgaria (including higher education) as well as research, publications, and studies about anti-corruption projects, initiatives, and policies.
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Anticorruption agency devoted to investigating and publicly exposing corrupt conduct, preventing corruption, and educating the community and the public sector about corruption and its effects. The site features information on the investigation into the conduct of certain present and former members of the staff of the University of Newcastle in relation to an allegation that certain students of Institut Wira Malaysia had engaged in plagiarism.
"Transparency International is a global network including more than 90 locally established national chapters and chapters-in-formation. These bodies fight corruption in the national arena in a number of ways. They bring together relevant players from government, civil society, business and the media to promote transparency in elections, in public administration, in procurement and in business. TI鈥檚 global network of chapters and contacts also use advocacy campaigns to lobby governments to implement anti-corruption reforms."
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This media archive collects news on corruption in Armenia. Some of these news are related to higher education.
Corruption in Higher Education
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Presents information about educational anti-corruption projects (general education, higher education, and in-service training) carried out by NGO Modern Didactics Center, a public non-governmental, non-profit organization for non-formal adult education and in-service training in Lithuania.
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HigherEd Consulting (Australasia) Pty Ltd is a private consulting and research company providing services to the higher education, vocational education and government sectors of the Asia Pacific Basin. It conducts research into the area of degree and diploma mill fraud affecting the region, along with providing accreditation and quality assurance to higher education providers.
An international project launched by the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNSECO) in 2002 to promote the circulation of information on the issue of corruption and education among specialists through the ETICO information exchange service and by conducting research. The site features information on IIEP research on corruption, training aimed at strengthening capacities in the fight against corruption in education, a database with over 200 articles and publications, links to other organizations working in the field of anti-corruption, a collection of news articles on corruption in education, and information on forthcoming events.
A non-profit organization based in Bologna, founded by the University of Bologna and the European University Association (EUA). The Magna Charta Observatory aims to gather information, express opinions and prepare documents relating to the respect for, and protection of, the fundamental university values and rights laid down in the Magna Charta Universitatum signed in Bologna in 1988 by 388 rectors of universities worldwide.
This site includes sections on anti-corruption education and corruption in the education sector.
Topic page "Education" provides resources about the challenges posed by corruption in the education sector with a focus on development co-operation and implementation of aid projects. The topics covered include teacher salaries, budget transparency, and procurement. The website also features literature reviews and links to other agencies interested in corruption in education.
Degree Fraud
Contains articles on diploma mills as well as lists of known diploma mills, known accreditation mills, and links to relevant databases.
聽(United States)
Contains information about resources concerning unaccredited degree-granting institutions as well as links and current news on diploma mills and organizations dealing with diploma mill issues.
A clearinghouse dedicated to showcasing accredited online degrees and helping consumers get educated about what it takes to succeed in online learning. The site features an online degree directory that offers free basic listings to CHEA-accredited colleges and universities.
聽(The Netherlands)聽
(In Dutch only)
The Dutch Information Centre on Diploma Mills aims to give information about fake diplomas, fake degrees, and the vendors of these, (diploma mills), to the Dutch speaking community.
"This portal offers access to on-line information on higher education institutions recognized or otherwise sanctioned by competent authorities in participating countries."
Intercollegiate Athletics
The purpose of this website is "defending academic integrity in the face of commercialized college sport."
Research Misconduct
"D猫j谩 vu is a database of extremely similar Medline citations. Many, but not all, of which contain instances of duplicate publication and potential plagiarism. Deja vu is a dynamic resource for the community, with manual curation ongoing continuously, and we welcome input and comments."
"The Project for Scholarly Integrity, an initiative of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), seeks to advance the scope and quality of graduate education in the ethical and responsible conduct of research. Supported by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), CGS has made awards to seven institutions participating in five projects, each of which is developing and assessing educational models that promote responsible scholarly conduct. This site serves as a tool for sharing ideas developed in these projects and as a clearinghouse of resources relevant to graduate deans and other university administrators, faculty, researchers, and graduate students. The resources on this site address curricular needs across a wide range of topics typically covered in responsible conduct of research (RCR) education and training. The site also addresses broad ethical issues, such as the ethical obligations of universities, as well as strategies for institutionalizing changes in the research environment."
"The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) promotes integrity in biomedical and behavioral research supported by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) at about 4,000 institutions worldwide. ORI monitors institutional investigations of research misconduct and facilitates the responsible conduct of research (RCR) through educational, preventive, and regulatory activities."
"The UCSD Research Ethics Program was begun in 1997 to promote awareness, discussion and analysis of the ethical dimensions of research. Although most functions of the Program are centered in the School of Medicine, the intended audience for courses, seminars, and workshops is campus-wide. The Program serves as a resource for the School of Medicine, the UCSD campus, and the San Diego community. The Program is jointly sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and the School of Medicine."
"This site is a starting point for teachers of research ethics. However, it is also intended to evolve based on the collective wisdom of research ethics teachers." The site consists of four sections: Introduction, Topics, Educational Formats and Discussion Tools.
"鈥� pinpointing scientific misconducts!" "This website is dedicated to taking inventory of scientific publications for which research misconduct has been assessed."
UKRIO is an independent body which offers advice and guidance to universities and other research organizations, and also to individual researchers, about the conduct of research.
Plagiarism
"This document is a code of best practices that helps educators using media literacy concepts and techniques to interpret the copyright doctrine of fair use. Fair use is the right to use copyrighted material without permission or payment under some circumstances鈥攅specially when the cultural or social benefits of the use are predominant."
"The Plagiarism Advisory Service provides guidance and advice to academics and teachers in both the HE and FE communities. The service will disseminate case studies of good practice relating to teaching and assessment in both HE and FE institutions."
"D猫j谩 vu is a database of extremely similar Medline citations. Many, but not all, of which contain instances of duplicate publication and potential plagiarism. Deja vu is a dynamic resource for the community, with manual curation ongoing continuously, and we welcome input and comments."
Provides free report on plagiarism detection for papers. There is also a paid version available.
"Plagiarism Today (PT) is a site targeted at webmasters and copyright holders regarding the issue of plagiarism online. Though it deals with many legal issues, in particular the DMCA and copyright law, it is not a legal blog and is, instead, a blog regarding a societal ill that鈥檚 effects may never be fully understood or comprehended."
Professors against plagiarism is a blog dedicated to fight plagiarism in Iran.聽 (Persian.)
"A short quiz and concept lesson by Ted Frick."
Helpful definitions: Intellectual Property, Plagiarism, Copyright, Quoting, etc.
Whistleblowers & Watchdogs
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A collective of students and faculty in Mexican universities who have gotten together to create a website to denounce corruption within their institutions.
聽(Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Provides information on the project "Research about Corruption at Tuzla University", implemented by the Forum of Tuzla Citizens under the sponsorship of OSCE, Regional Centre Tuzla.
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This website contains a special page (蟽蟿慰 蔚蟽蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏蠈 蟿蠅谓 螒螘螜 - within universities) dedicated to academic corruption issues (in Greek only).
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The site is dedicated to exposing the corrupt practices at LaGuardia Community College, in the state of New York.
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Provides for the protection of the citizens of Oregon and their postsecondary schools by ensuring the quality of higher education and preserving the integrity of an academic degree as a public credential. The site features a section with information on diploma mills and degree fraud.
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A group of Trent University alumni, past and present employees, students and concerned citizens of the City of Peterborough, the Province of Ontario and Canada. OurTrent acts as an advocate for transparency and accountability in university governance, and serves as a repository for documentation about Trent University in particular as well as Freedom of Information, accountability and transparency in postsecondary education in Ontario and beyond.
Professors against plagiarism is a blog dedicated to fight plagiarism in Iran.聽 (Persian.)
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An independently incorporated, non-profit donor-financed organization largely run by volunteers committed to the vision that Canadian universities ought to be transparent institutions serving in the public interest. It is concerned both by the increasing commercialization of university research and by the corporatization of university campuses, and views its work as part of the broader struggle to resist the transfer of public assets to the private sector. In addition to the newsblog, the site features a corporate connections database where visitors can track the corporate connections of every university Board of Governors in Canada.