The issue of academic integrity has been a cornerstone of Ukrainian education for years. The answers to "why?" and "what for?" have long been discussed by the community, and the implementation of "how?" is being successfully implemented by educational institutions. Unfortunately, in the course of our work, we regularly encounter situations that make us think about the effectiveness of these actions. However, today was an exception. We are outraged.
Prometric sent us a letter stating unprecedented violations of academic integrity by students taking exams abroad. Of course, the actions of the offenders were not accompanied by speeches of sincere remorse, but by threats and intimidation by high-ranking relatives. Yes, this is not the first time this has happened. And it is also not the first time we have tried to draw the attention of representatives of educational institutions to communication with foreign applicants, who are also a mirror of our education system abroad.
The Testing Board works every day to ensure that the project of organizing exams abroad works effectively. Sometimes this is combined with indescribable shame for the applicants who attend the certification centers.
We would also like to address those who are "on the other side of the headphones". Yes, dear entrepreneurs, you are not taken out of the assembly room and your booklet is not taken away. However, you are doing something much more terrible with your own lives - destroying the industry you belong to from within.
Conclusion: dear institutions that ignore the issue of academic integrity in their work with applicants (both foreign and Ukrainian), if you want us to be perceived abroad exclusively as a country of corrupt officials and brazen violators, please just ignore our appeal. We express our respect to the higher education institutions that do not tolerate cheating and "friendly assistance" to people without knowledge who pose a danger to patients.
