Role of education in fighting corruption
We would like to know how universities can support corruption
eradication in society. Do you have papers or reports on international
experience with the role of tertiary education institutions in
fighting corruption?
Content
Part I provides examples of anti-corruption
related courses and practitioners' training at the university level
Part II presents case studies of anti-corruption
education at both the secondary and university levels
Part III includes additional resources on
the role of education in fighting corruption
U4 Helpdesk reply
Anti-corruption education and training are essential elements of any
sustainable anti-corruption strategy. Educational establishments have
a major role to play here. This holds true both for schools and universities
as well as community and civil society initiatives.
In answer to this query, we have attempted to provide a combination of
resources.
Part one lists examples of educational courses and training coordinated
or delivered in partnership with universities. Many of these extend to
the 'outside-of-campus' role that you are enquiring about, as they are
convened as additional targeted educational initiatives. A number of the
examples are very specialised educational modules targeting practitioners
and experts.
Part two lists case studies of anti-corruption education not limited
to universities but rather covering schools, universities and community
initiatives alike aimed at educating the younger generation on anti-corruption
issues.
Part three lists additional resources and papers relevant to the
role of education in fighting corruption.
Part I: 1. Examples of Anti-Corruption Related Courses and Practitioners'
Training at University Levels
Australia
The executive training course "Corruption and Anti-Corruption"
has been taught since 1998 by the Asia Pacific School of Economics and
Government (APSEG) in partnership with the New South Wales Independent
Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). It was devised in consultation with
Transparency International (Australia).
The course aims to help participants to:
understand corruption and to develop practical strategies for investigation
and prevention
appreciate different types, meanings and explanations of corruption,
and their implications for controlling it
analyse corruption from different disciplinary perspectives
design and implement strategies to reduce corruption in government
dealings with clients, NGOs and the private sector
understand the relationship between corruption, liberalisation and
good governance
This unit takes a comparative approach that recognises international
differences.
It includes practical measures to prevent and detect corruption,
and links the new international concern with corruption to issues of economic
liberalisation and good governance.
Contacts:
Ruth Tampipi
Manager, Executive Training Program
Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government
The Australian National University Canberra 0200 Australia
Fax: 61 2 6125 5555
e-mail: Ruth.Tampipi@anu.edu.au
Hong Kong "Postgraduate Certificate in Corruption Studies" is a
course delivered at the Hong Kong University School of Professional and
Continuing Education, supported by Tiri
(the governance-access-learning network).
This course, which is amongst the first of its kind in the world, is
launched in response to the current global concern on corruption. The
course is beneficial to anti-corruption agencies and other law enforcement
agencies, as well as any public and private organization, to enable them
to gain a comprehensive understanding of the theories of corruption and
the way Hong Kong has successfully fought against the evil of corruption.
On completion of the course, students are to be able to formulate an effective
strategic plan for a country or organization to fight against corruption
and to gain technical knowledge and competence in corruption investigation,
prevention and public education system.
The aims of the course are:
to better understand the cause and effect of corruption and its impact
on the society and organizations
to learn to formulate an effective anti-corruption strategic plan,
drawing on experiences of the Hong Kong ICAC's successful three-pronged
strategy in combating corruption, ie. deterrence, prevention and education
to gain technical knowledge and competence in corruption investigation,
prevention and education.
Participants mainly come from their respective accountability bureaus
or anti-corruption commissions. Countries represented include Canada,
Singapore, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Timor Leste, Netherland, Nigeria,
Kenya, Zambia and Hong Kong.
Mode of teaching includes lectures, workshops, case analysis, demonstrations,
experience-sharing, focus group interviews, field trips and observation
tours.
Hungary
The course "Strategic Corruption Control and Organizational Integrity"
is held at the CEU (as part of its Summer University Programme) in co-operation
with the Tiri Network, London and the Center for Policy Studies, Central
European University, Budapest.
The course aims to familiarise participants with core ingredients to a
strategic and critical approach for effective and sustainable corruption
control and organisational integrity. Among the issues addressed by the
course are the following:
knowing when and how to focus on people, standards and values and
when to focus on institutional systems, structures and incentives
international legal instruments at the disposal of reformers by one
of its main architects
the potential and limitations of corruption measurements, indicators
and surveys
strategic public management and risk analysis
the specific circumstances liable to produce specific types of corruption
sequencing, leadership, timing and sustainability of reform processes
the role of culture, social values and attitudes in a comparative
perspective
the experience, scope and limitations of implementing business ethics
over the past decade and beyond and its implications for public integrity
reforms
the macro and microeconomics of corruption
tools available to external reform agents and how internal reformers
can apply them as well.
The course uses a variety of teaching methods, including traditional
lectures and seminars, brief documentaries, training CD-ROMs, expert panels,
workshops, etc.
The course is aimed at two main target audiences. First are the practitioners.
These are principally drawn from three groups: operational line managers,
internal control specialists (e.g. investigators, compliance officers,
inspectors, etc.) and external monitors and change agents (e.g. media,
NGOs, think tanks, etc.). Second, the course also includes academics developing
similar courses at their own universities, both within the region and
beyond. The CEU is working in partnership with Tiri to develop the
'Public Integrity Education Network' which brings together more than
20 leading universities to develop joint curricula, syllabi, teaching
materials and case studies in the areas of strategic corruption control
and organisational integrity.
Contacts:
CEU Summer University
Zrínyi u. 14, Budapest, Hungary 1051
Tel.: (36 1) 327 3069, 327 3811
Fax: (36 1) 327 3124
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu Website: http://www.ceu.hu/sun
Colombia "Working with Universities: the Catedra Programme" is an
inter-university initiative promoted by Transparencia por Colombia, and
supported by several Colombian higher education institutions. Cátedra
upholds the ethical formation of future professionals by providing pedagogical
tools, and by bringing together leaders of public and private organisations,
university academics and students.
Cátedra thereby advances reflection on the values and ethical
challenges of contemporary organisations, with an emphasis on the
construction of public good.
The Cátedra has been operating without interruptions for nearly
three years, and has, through its various components, reached more than
6,000 students. Many observers feel that the Cátedra proves attractive
to audiences because of the variety of components involved (case analysis
seminars, workshops, plenaries) and for the work and commitment from teachers.
Cátedra has also been successful in creating new links, e.g. between
public and private universities.
Conctacts:
Ms María Inés Granados,
Coordinator Cátedra Transparencia por Colombia,
Email: catedratransparencia@transparenciacolombia.org.co
Website:
www.transparenciacolombia.org.co
Kazakhstan
The main objectives of the Course on Preventing Corruption (first
held in 2002 and coordinated by TI Kazakhstan) include:
changing people's perceptions and attitudes about corruption through
education
equiping students and teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary
to prevent corruption
broadening the number of universities involved in the anti-corruption
education programme
preparing an anti-corruption textbook in the Kazakh and Russian languages
promoting the course as an obligatory discipline for law and economics
students, and others
The project was evaluated through surveys. Effective follow-up was
ensured through requests from 20 new educational establishments willing
to conduct the course at their universities.
Part II: Case Studies on Anti-Corruption Education (both secondary and
university level)
Education is central to preventing corruption, and therefore young people,
as the potential leaders of tomorrow, are a particularly important target
group for ethics education.
Transparency International has produced a Special
Edition of its Corruption Fighters' Tool Kit exclusively dedicated
to youth anti-corruption education. Written mainly by TI national
chapters, all 11 examples contribute to fostering a zero-tolerance approach
to corruption, and to building demand for accountability. With many illustrations,
this 80-pages booklet provides tools from Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia,
Colombia, Georgia, Italy, Macao, Moldova, Uganda, United States of America
and Zambia:
Ethics Education for Primary Pupils (Macao SAR)
Where Your Taxes Go: Fiscal Education for Citizenship (Brazil)
Working with Universities: The Cátedra Programme (Colombia)
Taking Anti-Corruption Heroes into Schools (Italy)
Educating Future Leaders: Good Governance in Schools (Zambia)
Ethics at School: A Model Programme of America (United States)
Youth Against Corruption: A National Essay Contest (Georgia)
Integrating Anti-Corruption into School Curricula (Cambodia)
The Power of Information: Training Young Journalists (Uganda)
Aulas Sin Fronteras: A National Contest (Argentina)
The paper deals with the role that education can play in combating corruption
and especially what teacher organisations can do in this context.
It looks at this from two perspectives. A key issue is how to increase
awareness about corruption. Another key issue is how to use already existing
instruments in the fight against corruption. The paper makes some recommendations
directed towards policy makers and leaders of teacher organisations.
The resolution states that in tackling the issue of mismanagement and
corruption in relation to education, two key aims should be distinguished:
it is essential, first, to combat mismanagement and corruption wherever
they are present in the education sector; but education should also be
used as a means of combating corruption at all levels in our societies.
Citizenship requires respect for education as a common good and the need
to give meaning to the public good which must be common to all.
The fight against corruption can be effective when preventive, punitive
and educational measures are combined. Therefore in Lithuania's National
Anti-Corruption Programme (adopted in 2002) and Lithuania's Law
on Corruption Prevention a major emphasis is placed on the prevention
of corruption and public education.
The National Anti-Corruption Programme states: Special anti-corruption
curricula should be carried out at universities and colleges that offer
specialities most prone to corruption. The anti-corruption education should
become an inseparable part of the public education system.
The Law on Corruption Prevention states: Anti-corruption education of
the public shall be carried out at the educational institutions of all
types and levels in accordance with the corresponding educational programmes,
through the media and other means.
A project specifically targeting education was therefore put together
by the Lithuanian authorities. The project aims at increasing anti-corruption
awareness through education of the youth (including developing and implementing
anti-corruption education programmes in higher schools), dissemination
of anti-corruption information, expansion of sociological basis and awareness-raising
on anti-corruption issues, such as the financing of political parties
and campaigns, thus contributing to the development of civic society.
As part of the project, "Anti-Corruption Education at Higher
Schools" has been published. It is a methodical publication for
lecturers and students of higher educational establishments. It presents
programmes of integrated and optional courses and extended lectures. It
demonstrates options for including anti-corruption education in social
sciences curricula.
The project also has other related components, including education, discussions
and awareness-raising on specific anti-corruption issues, such as financing
of political parties, and others.