The fight against corruption in higher education as a direction of anti-criminal policy: the experience of sociological research

In the structure of the anti-criminal policy being developed, the direction of overcoming corruption in the higher education system is considered. The empirical basis of anti-corruption prevention is investigated, its principles are formulated. The anonymous questionnaire method was used to obtain empirical data on corruption in educational institutions. A survey of 416 students of Russian universities was conducted. The questionnaire questions reflect the respondents’ opinion on the causes, conditions and forms of corruption, as well as on the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures applied. The results show that students associate corruption with giving bribes (in monetary or material form) to a teacher. The motives of students’ participation in corrupt relations are manifested in the desire to obtain a diploma of education without making efforts to master the educational material. A significant part of the respondents recognizes the initiative of students in establishing corrupt relations with the teacher. Many respondents justify the permissibility of illegally acquiring a final qualifying work. Students are not sufficiently informed about the content of anti-corruption programs operating at the university. A significant part of the students are indifferent to the manifestations of corruption. During the survey, students expressed idealistic views on anti-corruption issues. Many respondents do not associate anti-corruption prevention at the university with the system of anti-criminal policy of the state, do not associate the rejection of corruption with the system of traditional moral values. The results obtained in this work form the basis for anti-corruption prevention in the higher education system.