Causes and Consequences of Corrupt Behavior of Students from the Students' Point of View

Abstract

Corruption in education is one of the key threats to the development of Russian society. Despite the measures taken, the level of corruption in educational institutions remains high, which requires the search for new approaches to the prevention of corrupt behavior, including those through students' awareness of the causes and consequences of corrupt relations. This study is aimed at identifying the key reasons for students' involvement in corrupt practices and analyzing their understanding of possible consequences. The paper presents the results of an anonymous survey of students from two Russian universities. The study primarily focuses on the systematization of factors contributing to corrupt behavior. Among them, there are psychological motives (fear of failure, the desire to avoid difficulties), organizational problems (high academic workload, lack of time), and the influence of the social environment. Of particular interest are the data on the legal awareness of the survey participants, which demonstrate significant gaps in understanding the consequences of corrupt practices. The study reveals students’ ambivalence towards the problem, whereas despite the predominance of negative assessments, there is still a large number of those who are indifferent or offer situational justification for corruption. The revealed patterns emphasize the need for an integrated approach to the organization of work on corruption prevention, including the improvement of assessment processes, the development of corporate and legal culture, and the creation of effective mechanisms for the rejection of academic dishonesty. The authors suggest directions for further research in the field of forming the anti-corruption consciousness of young people.