The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted draft law No. 10392 ‘On Academic Integrity’ — a basic framework document that establishes uniform, clear, and fair rules of academic integrity for all participants in the educational and scientific process: from pupils and students to teachers, scientific and pedagogical workers, and administrators in the field of education.
The law aims to improve the quality of the educational process and scientific activity, as well as to increase confidence in the results of learning and research. It is based on seven key values of academic integrity:
- honesty;
- trust;
- respect;
- fairness;
- responsibility;
- resilience;
- determination.
The document provides for the mandatory creation of a system for ensuring academic integrity in every educational and scientific institution, with clearly defined policies, procedures, and mechanisms for preventing and responding to violations. It is important to note that this is not a punitive approach, but rather the formation of a sustainable culture of respect for knowledge, authorship, and the results of intellectual and scientific work.
From the outset, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention actively supported the development and promotion of this bill: it participated in interdepartmental work and expert discussions to develop provisions aimed at creating an ethical educational environment. For the agency, academic integrity is an integral part of the corruption prevention system, as it is in education and science that the values of responsibility, honesty, and zero tolerance for abuse are laid down.
The adoption of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Academic Integrity’ in the second reading is an important result of the joint, long-term work of the parliament, the relevant committee, the expert community and state institutions, in particular the NACP. The law creates a basis for systemic changes in education and science, introduces clear rules and transparent procedures, defines responsibility for violations and, at the same time, supports the development of a culture of integrity as a social value.
