Akademisyenlerin Etik Dışı Davranışlarına Yönelik Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Görüşleri

Abstract

Global higher education systems worldwide and their stakeholders have substantially been affected by the transformative effects of neoliberal policies that challenged ethical practices through increasing competition, changing managerial understanding, diminishing academic freedom and meritocracy. Considering these effects, this research aims to investigate Turkish university students’ perceptions about unethical practices of faculty ranging from teaching and assessment to their service duties for students. In this qualitative study, 23 Turkish university students’ interview data were evaluated from The Cultural Dimensions Model of Hofstede. The overall impression was that students had high consciousness about academic codes of conduct. As to the major findings, while the top five frequently experienced unethical practices were “favoritism, professional incompetence, humiliation, autonomy vs. responsibility dilemma and verbal abuse”, only a few students defended their rights against unethical practices because they did not want to rock the boat or they had disbelief in positive change. The main implications are briefly: for academic leaders to form an anti-harassment office run by an independent body; for faculty to adopt a fair approach and be open to feedback; for students to reflect their concerns to faculty, report them to authorities when needed and develop their knowledge further about academic ethics.