Nataliya L. Rumyantseva

Organizational culture in the adoption of the Bologna process: a study of academic staff at a Ukrainian university

The growing influence of the Bologna Process on higher education around the world has raised concerns about the applicability of this set of reforms in diverse cultural contexts. Ukraine provides an instructive case study highlighting the dynamics occurring at the convergence of the new framework with a state-centred model of higher education. The goal of this study was to examine the professional identity of faculty at one Ukrainian university and their perceptions regarding the implementation of Bologna at their institution. We found that instructional and institutional innovations were successfully implemented only to the extent that they were integrated with the existing pattern of values and beliefs held by faculty. These findings provide insight for how other countries may approach Bologna compatibility in the presence of social and cultural forces divergent from those in which the Bologna process originated.

Are Academics in Kazakhstan Capable of Self-regulation? A Study of Faculty’s Normative Structure in the Midst of Higher Education Decentralization Reforms

This paper investigates the state and structure of professional norms in the context of undergraduate teaching in a university in Kazakhstan. The purpose is to understand the belief system held by academics with regards to their professional duties in the context of teaching. Evidence of such normative structure would suggest that the Kazakhstani academic profession holds potential for effective and ethical self-regulation; its absence would raise a red flag for university administrators and policy-makers. In order to place our findings in the meaningful context, we compare the normative structure in Kazakhstan to that of the US academic profession previously studied by Braxton and Bayer. We find that academics in Kazakhstan adhere to a normative structure which is quite similar to, although somewhat more relaxed than, that of US professors. We discuss the implications of these findings and empirical evidence for academic corruption in the context of decentralization reforms, authority devolution and formation of accountability mechanisms.

Ukraine: Higher education reforms and dynamics of the institutional landscape

The chapter explores the developmental trajectory of Ukraine’s higher education system since the middle ages. Starting with just a few comprehensive universities in the western parts at first and later Eastern parts of the country, the system gradually evolved into a diverse and differentiated institutional landscape. The variety and scope of HEIs reflects the internal logic of the system’s own development as well as outside factors, including changes of the ruling governments, fluctuations in the demographic trends, shifts in political alliances and cultural and language oscillations, which have been characteristic of the Ukrainian history. The authors elaborate on several policy rationales that came to underpin some of the changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union as well as policy discussions and policy silences (lack of dialog amongst various stakeholders) that have taken a lot of energy and yet have not lead to any noticeable changes in the institutional scene. The chapter also discusses the most recent changes in the legislation and practical implementations leaving space for future research to draw conclusions as to their effectiveness.

Beg, borrow, or steal: determinants of student academic misconduct in Ukrainian higher education

ABSTRACT Actions underpinned by the lack of academic integrity are increasingly impacting academic processes within the higher education sector around the world. Bribery, plagiarism and other forms of deception that enable students to obtain undeserved grades or degree certificates undermine the purpose and mission of higher education. By drawing on a representative study conducted among 600 students in Ukraine, this paper explores the determinants of several forms of student academic misconduct and provides insights as to which groups of students are more likely to engage in either monetary or non-monetary corruption. Findings show the importance of students individual variation in ones levels of general corruption perception and moral stance on corruption, as well as the practical constraints on ones time, living conditions, willingness to study independently, gender and size of the city of origin. While paper focuses only on corruption with direct student involvement, it also outlines a research agenda by discussing the importance of second-order corruption, as well as the role of faculty members and administration in student academic misconduct. Findings will be useful for educators, policymakers and other practitioners.