Korupcija aukštosiose mokyklose: teisinio vertinimo ir studentų požiūrio tyrimas
ENCorruption is one of the most dangerous social phenomena, endangering human rights, democracy and legal state, distorting social justice, competitiveness, business conditions, impeding the development of economy, endangering the administration of the state, stability of the state institutions and public morals. The purpose of the National Anti-Corruption Programme of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter - Programme), approved on 14 May 2009 by the Order No. XI-259 of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, is to ensure long-term, efficient and purposeful corruption control and prevention system in the Republic of Lithuania. [...] The results of the research showed that the majority of students link the term corruption" to the abuse of position, acceptance (giving) of money (gifts), dishonest activity of officials. A small part of respondents (29%) perceive corruption as gifts and services, the value of which exceeds 1 Minimum Subsistence Figure. Frequently students attribute the material gifts presented individually to lecturers by students before the exam as manifestations of corruption (65.5%), meanwhile, the same material values given collectively are seen as manifestation of corruption by a less significant part of respondents (39.5%). A considerable part of respondents deem the protection by relatives and acquaintances as corruption (when lecturers ask each other to put a better mark for their relatives, friends) (54.4%), even if the material payment is not offered in return. Students of higher education institutions in Klaipėda do not tend to link corruption only with the reception or provision of material values.Respondents believe that flowers given individually to a lecturer by a student before the exam are also viewed as one of the manifestations of corruption (31%); meanwhile the behaviour of a group of students when they give flowers to the lecturer before the exam is deemed as corruption by a relatively small part of respondents (15,4%). The surveyed students indicated that corruption is more widespread in other higher education institutions (70.8 %) than in schools they study themselves (23.9 %). Students deem corruption in their higher education institution as a less problematic issue in comparison to other higher education institutions; however, students tend to believe that corruption is neither a big nor a small problem. The research data presupposes that students are not able to properly assess the damage of corruption; they do not assess corruption as a potential problem, and sometimes even tend to tolerate it. Likely, students lack information about the negative outcomes caused by corruption, both with respect to themselves and the state. The yet stable indicators of corruption-related offences in Lithuania have recently increased. Corruption in higher education institutions remains an important problem, and to solve this problem, it is necessary to promote the anti-corruption education in the community of higher education institutions.
