Empowering Students Against Sexual Corruption: Anti-Corruption Reforms and Further Tasks in Ukrainian Higher Education

The paper reveals the following research questions: Is sexual corruption prevalent in Ukrainian higher education institutions? What gender differences exist in the manifestations of sexual corruption among victims and perpetrators? The work analyses results of data collection conducted within the “Sexual Corruption in Ukrainian Higher Education” (SECURE) project, which includes 3 focus groups and several individual interviews with students and graduates of Ukrainian higher education institutions. The paper is also supported by information harvested in the media and qualitative research on other subjects of the project. The topics of corruption in Ukrainian higher education institutions, its forms and manifestations, as well as strategies for overcoming it are revealed in studies by Round and Rodgers (2009), Zaloznaya (2012), Shaw, Katsaiti and Pecoraro (2015), Polese, Stepurko and Morris (2020) and others. However, there are relatively few works on sexual corruption issue. Druhanova, Fedonenko and Nalyvaiko (2022) claim that the topic of sextortion in universities is relevant for Ukraine, but it is not given its rightful place in the research in public discourse. Indeed, literature review showed that the topic of sexual corruption is practically unexplored in academic literature. The issue of abuse of power for personal gain of a sexual nature in Ukrainian higher education institutions is more widely covered in the media, but is labelled as sexual harassment. This, in turn, excludes the corruption component of this crime from the spotlight of public attention and, more dangerously, from the attention of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies. Focus groups and interviews with Ukrainian graduates and students showed that the level of sexual corruption in Ukrainian higher education is relatively insignificant, but various sources have reported cases of such incidents. Respondents pointed to positive changes in the fight against corruption since Ukraine regained its independence in 1991. Research participants attributed particular importance to the Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity events in 2013-2014, which led to significant democratisation of society and the establishment of special anti-corruption bodies. Respondents noted that in the cases of sexual corruption known to them, women were disproportionately more affected than men. Therefore, sexual corruption not only hinders access to education, but also poses a particular threat to women’s rights. Based on the data and secondary sources analysis, the author formulated recommendations for the further implementation of anti-corruption measures in higher education in Ukraine.