Recent research at the University of Montenegro showed that students are in general unfamiliar with what constitutes academic dishonesty and that they are lacking understanding of consequences.

The joint European Union and Council of Europe action on “Strengthening integrity and combating corruption in higher education in Montenegro”, implemented from 2016 to 2019, has supported the development of an online course for students at the University of Montenegro, tackling exactly the topics of academic integrity principles. To date, around 1850 students have taken the course and received certificates that are automatically generated when completing the test. The university has decided to make the test obligatory for the students entering the first semester.

The action “Quality education for all” intends now to spread this great practice to private universities thus enabling the overall student population in the country to be aware and to learn in a sustainable way about this important topic.

The course has been developed with advice of an expert from Gothenburg University where similar course has been in place for some time, whereit can also be taken by teaching staff.

The course is divided in two parts: the first intended for students who are at the beginning of their studies, and the second intended for students who are starting with academic writing. Learning material consists of video tutorials and various literature that can help students become acquainted with academic integrity principles and rules when doing all kinds of writing such as essays, master theses or even PhD theses. The course is available for enrolment also to the teaching staff.

The future activities will be held within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” and its action on “Quality education for all” in Montenegro.