Advancing Academic Integrity and Research Ethics in Higher Education: A Case Study of Institutional Capacity Building at Caucasus University
Keywords:
Erasmus+, Higher education, Institutional capacity building, Research integrity, Research ethics, Academic integrityAbstract
Introduction: Academic integrity and research ethics are essential components of quality assurance and institutional governance in higher education. This study examines how two successive Erasmus+ projects, INTEGRITY and ETHICS, contributed to strengthening academic integrity and research ethics capacity at Caucasus University, Georgia. Methods: A qualitative institutional case-study design was employed, based on document analysis of university policies, project reports, training materials, institutional records, and publicly available documentation. The two projects were comparatively examined across five dimensions: regulatory development, education and training, technological and academic support, institutional governance, and sustainability. Aggregate implementation indicators were analyzed descriptively. Results: The INTEGRITY project established an institutional foundation through the Academic Integrity Code, integration of plagiarism-detection technologies, revision of academic writing curricula, and establishment of the Academic Writing Center in 2020. Project records documented approximately 3,500 originality checks and awareness activities reaching 1,800–2,000 students and 350–380 staff members. Building on these achievements, the ETHICS project expanded institutional capacity through research ethics training, certificate courses, development of ethical review procedures, and establishment of the Research Ethics Council in 2025. The first certificate course registered 67 participants, and a second cohort was subsequently implemented. The findings demonstrate progressive integration of academic integrity and research ethics into institutional policies, educational activities, and governance structures. Conclusion: Successive international capacity-building projects can support sustainable institutional development when their outcomes are integrated into permanent university structures and routine academic practices. The experience of Caucasus University offers a potentially transferable model for strengthening academic integrity and research ethics in higher education. Further evaluation is needed to assess long-term effects on academic and research conduct.
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