The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) held a strategic session for university representatives entitled ‘Integrity in Education: From Recommendations to Action’ as part of Open Government Week. The event presented the Methodological Recommendations for Building Integrity in Higher Education Institutions, recently approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and discussed the challenges on the path to transformation with the university community.
The document, developed by NACP in collaboration with partners, will help shape a new culture in educational institutions where integrity is a fundamental principle. The recommendations cover the following areas: organisation of anti-corruption work in higher education institutions, organisation of the educational process, university administration, academic integrity and partnerships.
"These Recommendations are not abstract rules. They are a concrete response to real requests from universities: how to organise anti-corruption work, how to develop integrity policies, how to engage students, how to act as a manager, teacher or authorised representative. The document provides guidance for everyone, because only joint action by all participants in the educational process can transform higher education,' said NACP Head Viktor Pavlushchyk.
"The development and implementation of these Methodological Recommendations within the Open Government Partnership Action Plan demonstrates the potential of transparency and accountability as drivers of systemic change in education. This is not just about adopting policies, but about shaping a culture of integrity and anti-corruption in the educational environment. This is a contribution to improving the quality of education and developing human capital, which is the foundation of Ukraine's sustainability. UNDP is proud to stand alongside NACP in these efforts, supporting the movement towards a future based on transparency, integrity and equal opportunities for all,’ said Rana El-Houjeiri, UNDP Policy Development Director in Ukraine.
Iryna Tymchenko, Head of the NACP's Education and Training Programme Department, emphasised that the Recommendations pay particular attention to the role of higher education institution leadership, as the tone set at the top determines the overall culture and ethical climate of the organisation.
Key recommendations for universities include:
- organise the activities of an anti-corruption officer;
- assess corruption risks and approve an anti-corruption programme;
- create a secure system for reporting corruption, integrity and ethical violations;
- introduce an electronic system for managing the educational process;
- conduct regular anonymous electronic surveys on the quality of teaching;
- introduce teacher ratings;
- introduce an electronic system for recording and allocating places in student dormitories.
The strategic session at the NACP was attended by university teams from different regions of Ukraine, consisting of managers, teachers, anti-corruption officers and students. Together, they discussed integrity issues in education and developed the first steps for implementing the Recommendations in their institutions. Based on the results of the session, the NACP Integrity Office will select several pilot universities that will be the first to implement these changes with the support of experts.
The NACP's methodological recommendations were developed jointly with the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine, the Anti-Corruption Headquarters, the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, representatives of universities and students with the support of the UNDP project in Ukraine ‘Support to Civil Society and Youth’, implemented with funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the USAID Project ‘Support to Leading Organisations in the Fight against Corruption in Ukraine “Vzaemodiya”.
As part of Open Government Week, on 23 May, the NACP will also hold an online lecture for students and educators, which will feature speakers from anti-corruption agencies who will talk about how Ukraine's anti-corruption system works. For more details, please visit here.
For reference.
From 19 to 23 May, Ukraine is participating in the global OpenGovWeek, which takes place annually in countries participating in the Open Government Partnership international initiative. Public events within this campaign bring together representatives of the authorities and the public to promote democracy, increase the level of openness in public administration and establish cooperation.
