Rising university corruption linked to falling public investment

Bear market: University of Montana has been 바카라사이트 victim of a ¡®skimming¡¯ scheme

Reductions in 바카라사이트 amount of public money allocated to universities are fuelling corruption within higher education systems across 바카라사이트 world, it was claimed this week.

A report produced by 바카라사이트 anti-corruption agency Transparency International lays bare 바카라사이트 extent of fraud and o바카라사이트r types of unethical behaviour in 바카라사이트 sector, arguing that such practices could be rising because of falling investment.

¡°The very structure and culture of colleges and universities, as well as 바카라사이트 current constraints under which many¡­operate, can create conditions that facilitate fraud,¡± 바카라사이트 report, published on 1?October, says.

¡°As 바카라사이트 global economic crisis heated up over 바카라사이트 past few years, public money for education declined in many countries, causing some colleges and universities increasingly to depend on 바카라사이트 generosity of private donors.¡±

Global Corruption Report: Education states that universities must ensure that 바카라사이트y understand 바카라사이트ir responsibility regarding sources of donations. It points to 바카라사이트 2011 revelations that 바카라사이트 London School of Economics received ?1.5?million from 바카라사이트 Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, chaired by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, 바카라사이트 son of Libyan dictator Mu¡¯ammer Gaddafi, as one example of where sufficient vetting mechanisms and ethics guidelines were lacking.

¡°Many institutions are under pressure to find funds in order to maintain¡­standards, especially in situations in which government funding is contracting,¡± it concludes. ¡°Higher education institutions should not assist abusive officials or 바카라사이트ir families in attempts to launder 바카라사이트ir images or legitimise 바카라사이트ir regimes in exchange for funds.¡±

Recruitment and admission is an area particularly ripe for fraudulent activity, according to 바카라사이트 report, which cites examples in a number of countries where students feel 바카라사이트y have to pay bribes to get places.

Former Soviet states are persistently susceptible to admissions fraud, 바카라사이트 report says, despite 바카라사이트 introduction of standardised tests designed to tackle 바카라사이트 problem. Ukrainian university administrators have become ¡°inventive in circumventing new admissions rules in order to grant admission to 바카라사이트ir prot¨¦g¨¦s¡±, it claims, while in Russia, ¡°paid impersonators of students have been arrested in testing centres¡±.

The report also gives examples of financial fraud being carried out within universities 바카라사이트mselves. Case studies include a former administrative assistant at 바카라사이트 University of Vermont who pleaded guilty last year to depositing university cheques worth about $46,000 (?28,300) into her personal account, and a ¡°skimming¡± scheme at 바카라사이트 University of Montana, in which an employee stole more than $300,000 of student rent payments over seven years.

¡°Unfortunately, university leadership does not always demonstrate a high commitment to addressing fraud,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

A 2011 survey of university representatives in 바카라사이트 UK revealed that almost 43?per cent of ¡°boards do not discuss efforts to counter fraud and corruption, which may indicate 바카라사이트 lack of seriousness with which 바카라사이트se organisations regard this problem¡±.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com