On April 15, 2026, an advisory hour on the theme “Corruption-free university” was held with the participation of first-year students in the Translation Studies program. The event was conducted by Daurenbayeva Aida Alpysbaevna, a first-year master’s student in Foreign Philology, under the guidance of Yelena Alexandrovna Morugova.
The event aimed to highlight the problem of corruption in the higher education system, to cultivate among students a culture of academic integrity, and to promote the principle of zero tolerance of corruption.
During the advisory hour, students were introduced to the following topics.
First, the current situation of corruption in Kazakhstan’s higher education system was analyzed. The most frequently mentioned cases were exam-taking and diploma defense. Exact figures were provided for the sums paid to obtain a scholarship, to complete the exam session, and to receive high marks, and these data gave the students much to ponder.
Next, official reports and audit results were discussed. According to 2023 data from the Anti-Corruption Agency of Kazakhstan, so-called “fake graduates” were identified, and over 1,000 diplomas remained unconfirmed. Data indicating that the number of graduates in some universities had been artificially increased by 2-4 times sparked a lively discussion among students.
The main manifestations of corruption were considered comprehensively: illegal competition during admissions, academic plagiarism, violations in the grading system, as well as official corruption – namely nepotism and violations in tender procedures.
As part of current measures, information was provided about the Law “On Combating Corruption” (2015), compliance services at universities, and the “Sanaly Urpaq” (Conscious Generation) club. International practices were also discussed – UN programs (UNESCO, UNODC), the GRACE project, and the OECD’s model of integrity education.
The advisory hour helped raise students’ awareness of corruption. The students understood that corruption is not only a legal issue but also a threat to academic values and their future professional reputation.
It was concluded that the ideal of a “Corruption-free university” can only be achieved through systematic and comprehensive work, i.e., through the unity of legislation, oversight, education, and civic activism.
