Prospective graduates of the Open University take part in a briefing on the Graduation Ceremony of the U Period for 2017 at the hall of the university\'s campus in Pondok Cabe, Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (10/4). Through the Open University, senior high school graduates and those who have been working can join in higher education regardless of their social or economic background. Up to 1.3 million students have graduated from the university.
Three recent cases of ethics violations in higher education remind us about how the values of our educational institutions have become smeared.
We will discuss the three cases that surfaced in July-September 2017. At the end of July, the Ombudsman team found a case of alleged plagiarism by the rector of Halu Oleo University in Kendari. On September 7, the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry’s Academic Performance Evaluation team found a peculiarity at the Jakarta State University postgraduate level. On September 15, the Ombudsman recommended a review of the position of Manado State University’s Rector over a case of alleged maladministration.
In a life that is all-pragmatic and results-oriented, the three types of violations mentioned above are considered normal. That is part of winning a war. However, in educational institutions that are supposed to uphold academic ethics, all three violations are a disgrace. The call for character education made by the government recently is like a call in an empty desert.
Academic ethics are about more than just honesty, integrity and good administration. However, these three are three main principles of academic ethics. The three are the rules of conduct for the academic community.
If plagiarism is allowed to take place and the people committing it are left as they are, the damage caused will not only effect educational institutions but also scientific integrity. Plagiarism harms two sides: the educational institutions and the discipline. Reducing college hours to 40 minutes per study credit with the term “compact” corrupts the meaning of “doctor”. It is the same in the case of administrative errors.
The effort to slow down corruption eradication through various means, including the attempt to “dull the fangs” of the Corruption Eradication Commission, should not move to the matter of enforcing academic ethics. When it seems as though various violations are breaking out in society, an attitude of permissiveness needs to be pushed far away from the realm of educational institutions.
This follow-up suggestion, along with good intentions and a clean heart, is not a message from a sponsor, but is conveyed solely for the enforcement of academic ethics. This note is for the sake of upholding the rules of conduct, which need to be held on to by civitas academica (the society of academics), not the general public. We want the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry to continue to develop a higher education system that undergoes the correct process and upholds honesty.
