The World Bank in Ukraine and the USAID’s project on Promoting Active Citizen Engagement (ACTION) in Combating Corruption in Ukraine announced the winners of the National Essay Contest 2008 "Corruption in Higher Educational Institutions."

This contest targeted young people and aimed to raise their awareness about the detrimental influence of corruption on the lives of Ukrainian youth and society as a whole. The stakes are high: in a corrupt education system, the between-the-generational transmission of corruption takes place when students first experience and comprehend the lure of bribes as an alternative “norm.” Therefore, initiatives like this can help develop a critical view about corruption and promote youth engagement in anti-corruption programs in Ukraine.

Participants of the contest ranged between 15 to 25 years of age and shared critical views on one of the following five questions:

1. Does corruption influence the value and quality of education?
2. In what way does bribery affect the quality of learning?
3. Can one rise in the higher education system without "connections"?
4. Can standardized external testing decrease the level of corruption during the admission process to higher education institutions?
5. What can I do to counter corruption in higher education institutions?

The Jury comprising of representatives of the World Bank, ACTION, UNDP, and other public and private entities reviewed 104 essays and selected 14 winners representing different regions of Ukraine.