Bribes and bungs

Australian report warns of corrupt practices in the international student industry.

Strong competition for globally mobile students has led to the enrolment of unsuitable candidates who may be tempted to offer bribes, according to a state investigation.

The “growth in supply of university places globally is outstripping the growth in the number of students with suitable academic capabilities and adequate English-language proficiency,” states the report by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption. It examines recruitment at universities in the state, including Sydney, Australia’s largest city, and recommends that universities should do more to protect themselves from the risks of corruption.