This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from a U4 Partner Agency. The U4 Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International in collaboration with the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based at the Chr. Michelsen Institute.
Query
Please provide a sector study on corruption in the academic research sector and ways to address it (with focus on low income/LMIC countries in Africa)
Summary
Corruption in academic research has consequences beyond the academic community. When it happens in medical research or in research upon which policy decisions will be based, it can have devastating effects for the whole community. However, even when the research itself might not have an impact outside of the academic community, corruption in academia can undermine core values in society as it breaks the link between merit and hard work and success, and can make favouritism, bribery and fraud more acceptable to obtain results. The academic culture of “publish or perish” has incentivised unethical behaviour as academics have to produce and publish research constantly to advance in their careers. In low income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMIC), a lack of funding and opportunities further exacerbates the problems.
Contents
- Background
- Corruption in academic research
- Specific corruption risks
- The situation in low income and LMIC countries in Africa
- Mitigation strategies
- References
Main points
- Misconduct can happen at all different stages of research. Favouritism or bribery can determine grant winners or PhD admissions; ghost-writers can be hired by faculty and students alike; data can be falsified to support an expected hypothesis.
- The research environment and the “publish or perish” academic culture can incentivise misconduct in academic research as faculties need to publish new and valuable research constantly.
- Academia is not impervious to more “mundane” types of corruption, and embezzlement and fraud are common risks particularly when academic autonomy becomes synonymous with a lack of oversight and control.
- Low income and LMIC countries confront a particular set of challenges, as a lack of funding and specific barriers can create more incentives for unethical behaviour
Authors
Gabriela Camacho (TI), [email protected]
Reviewers
Monica Kirya (U4), [email protected]
Kaunain Rahman (TI), [email protected]
Date
18/03/2022
