Kyiv, 21 May 2025  — A strategic session for university representatives, titled "Integrity in Education: From Recommendations to Actions," was held at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) as part of Open Government Week. The event saw the presentation of the methodological recommendations for fostering integrity in higher education institutions that were recently approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES). 

Together with the university community, session participants discussed challenges in transforming the educational environment and plans for implementing these recommendations into university practice.

The methodological recommendations aim to foster a new culture in educational institutions where integrity is a fundamental principle. The recommendations cover areas such as the organization of anti-corruption work in higher education institutions, educational process organization, university administration, academic integrity, and partnerships.

"These recommendations are not abstract rules,” said NACP Head Viktor Pavlushchyk. “They are a concrete response to the real needs of universities: how to organize anti-corruption work, how to shape integrity policies, how to engage students, and how management, educators, and authorized persons should act.”

“The document provides guidance to everyone, because only the joint actions of all participants in the educational process can transform higher education.”

The importance of such recommendations extends far beyond educational policy – they are a component of transforming the environment based on the principles of integrity and open governance.

Rana El-Houjeiri, Head of the Policy Unit at UNDP in Ukraine, said the development and implementation of these methodological recommendations within the framework of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan demonstrates the potential of transparency and accountability as drivers of systemic change in education.

“The development and implementation of these recommendations, as part of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan, demonstrate the transformative potential of transparency and accountability in education. This initiative is not just about adopting policies—it's about fostering a culture of integrity and anti-corruption within the education system. We are not only improving the quality of education but also investing in human capital development, laying the groundwork for strengthening Ukraine's resilience. At UNDP, we are proud to stand alongside NACP, supporting its efforts and advocating for a future built on transparency, integrity, and opportunity for all,” El-Houjeiri said.

“This is a contribution to improving the quality of education and developing human capital, which is the foundation of Ukraine's resilience. 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.”

Key recommendations for universities include:

• Organising the activities of anti-corruption commissioners;
• Assessing corruption risks and approving an anti-corruption programme;
• Creating a secure system for reporting corruption, breaches of integrity, and ethical violations;
• Implementing an electronic system for managing the educational process;
• Regularly conducting anonymous electronic surveys on teaching quality;
• Introducing a ranking system for lecturers.

University teams from various regions of Ukraine, comprising managers, lecturers, anti-corruption commissioners, and students, participated in the session at NACP. Together, they discussed integrity issues in education and developed initial steps for implementing the recommendations in their institutions. Moving forward, the NACP Integrity Office and UNDP will jointly identify several pilot universities that will be the first to implement these changes with expert support.

Kateryna Udod, Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs (editor's note: the university is now located in the city of Kropyvnytskyi) said the methodological recommendations will help universities navigate the complex process of improving their integrity system.

“Each institution can find useful tools within (the recommendations), adapt them to their own specifics, and, by supplementing them with their own approaches, effectively integrate them into their activities,” Udod said. “After all, integrity is not just about regulations or policies, but also about the readiness to take responsibility and change the environment around you.”

The methodological recommendations were developed by NACP in cooperation with the NGO "Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine," MES, the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, representatives of universities and students, with the support of the UNDP in Ukraine project “Civil Society and Youth Support,” implemented with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the USAID project “Support to Anti-Corruption Champion Institutions.”

Background:

From 19 to 23 May, Ukraine is participating in the global Open Government Week, which takes place annually in countries participating in the international Open Government Partnership Initiative. Public events within this campaign bring together representatives of government and the public to promote democracy, increase the openness of public administration, and establish cooperation.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org