Academic integrity in the framework of a student’s sustainable anti-corruption stance: insights from sociological analysis

Abstract

Introduction. The process of fostering a sustainable anti-corruption stance among students faces a significant challenge: the disconnect between publicly stated condemnations of corruption and the behaviours exhibited in daily life.Aim. The present research aimed to conduct a sociological analysis of the development of a stable anti-corruption stance among students, focusing on three key parameters: cognitive, value-based, and behavioural.Methodology and research methods. A sociological survey was conducted among 572 university students in Ekaterinburg (n = 572) studying Economics and Management. The survey was administered online using the Yandex platform, and the results were analysed using the statistical software SPSS.Results. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the results obtained in relation to findings from Russian and international empirical studies. The analysis revealed that students exhibit a relatively high level of values rejecting corruption in society; however, they simultaneously display a tolerant attitude towards violations of academic honesty within their educational activities. It was concluded that the norms of academic honesty are more stable during group interactions than in individual educational pursuits. Additionally, the study identifies the need to analyse new opportunities and risks to academic integrity associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational contexts.Scientific novelty. A diagnostic assessment of the “sustainable anti-corruption position” among university students was conducted, focusing on their rational, value-based, and behavioural manifestations. It is argued that academic integrity serves as a behavioural indicator of the sustained anti-corruption stance that students exhibit through their educational activities.Practical significance. The adoption of standards of academic integrity will assist students in developing a socially acceptable model of behaviour, particularly in situations where there may be a temptation to violate anti-corruption rules for personal gain. The cultivation of a student’s academic integrity should be regarded as a crucial component of systemic anti-corruption efforts within the university.