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Changing accountability mindsets: From workshops and reports to professors and imams

By on 1 May 2013 in Accountability, Education

Working on accountability in difficult contexts, it does not take long to realise the key shortcomings of established approaches to these issues – expensive workshops are held, lengthy papers are written and complex logframes are completed, but little changes on the ground. Some donors and NGOs are now much more creative – using new social [...]

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The Atlanta scandal: standardized testing and the corruption of US education

By on 16 April 2013 in Education

Over the past 12 years, an educational corruption scandal has been brewing in the southeastern United States.  In early April it came to a head when 35 former teachers and administrators of Atlanta’s public school system – including the former superintendent – were charged by a grand jury.  These individuals were indicted on 65 charges related [...]

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Can you teach how to fight corruption?

By on 5 April 2013 in Anti-corruption movement, Education, People power, Politics and government, Young people

Just last week, around 3,000 high school students protested outside Cypriot Parliament  after Cyprus agreed the 10 billion euro ($13 billion) bailout with the European Union. Break out of demonstrations around the world makes me wonder- what is it that young protesters really do? Express their anger? Why anger? I can‘t help perceiving angry faces [...]

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“But are you a real doctor?” Shortcut doctorates in Germany

By on 26 March 2013 in Education

Last month, German Education Minister Annette Schavan resigned after a university revoked her doctorate due to allegations of plagiarism. Only two years ago, the then-Minister of Defence, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg also stepped down for the same reasons. These two high-level cases, in addition to numerous other plagiarism cases involving German politicians (such as Members of [...]

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Is there enough transparency at US universities?

By on 12 March 2013 in Americas, Education, Young people

As university tuition costs increase and the job market remains weak, with many college graduates unemployed or underemployed, the choice of university for young US adults becomes increasingly a financial one. And to make a good financial choice, one needs good information. Consider these facts: even after controlling for inflation, between 1980 and 2010 the [...]

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Big business on campus

By on 25 February 2013 in Education, Private sector

One of the more disturbing revelations in Inside Job, the 2010 documentary film that brilliantly exposes the corruption in the financial industry in the lead-up to the crash, is that of the widespread connections between universities and Wall Street. The film reveals that some prominent academic economists were paid by firms to speak out or [...]

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Reaching a tipping point: the fight to beat match fixing

By on 5 February 2013 in Education, Sport, Whistleblowing

News released yesterday by Europol, the European police organisation, that football is the target of alleged widespread match fixing should come as no surprise. But the match fixing allegations, involving 15 countries, hundreds of games and more than $2.7 million in pay offs to players and officials (mostly originating in Asia), is shocking. What’s the [...]

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“Universitywatch”: a wiki to name undue corporate influence at universities in Germany

By on 5 February 2013 in Education, Europe and Central Asia, Private sector

Elisabeth Kahler and Christian Humborg work with Transparency Germany and prepared the launch of “universitywatch”. Berlin: Until 2011 Deutsche Bank funded two endowed chairs, one at the Institute for Applied Financial Mathematics at the Humboldt University Berlin and one at the Technical University Berlin. The steering committee named to appoint the chairs represented both sides [...]

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The UN asks what we think – but will they listen?

By on 15 January 2013 in Climate Change, Education, Human rights, Poverty and development, Water

Flashback to 2000. The United Nations and its member states gathered in New York to embark on a new century that was free from poverty and flush with prosperity. They set out a long list of commitments that they thought would end poverty within 15 years.  Their pledges helped to re-energise efforts to fight poverty [...]

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Local communities fight corruption at the (grass) roots

By on 13 September 2012 in Asia Pacific, Education, Politics and government, Young people

Transparency International is a household name in Bangladesh, thanks to one of the biggest chapters in our movement. The efforts of Transparency International Bangladesh to engage people from all over the country have resulted in a 5,000+ strong volunteer base and tens of thousands more participating in activities and campaigns. Founded in 1996 Transparency Bangladesh [...]

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