Prof Dr Zulkifli, MA
Professor of Socio-Cultural Anthropolgy/
Director of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

Recently, the issue of academic misconduct in Indonesia has become more prominent. The results of the Macháček & Srholec (2022) document study show that Indonesia is ranked second in the case of publications in predatory journals globally. One level below Kazakhstan with 16.73% of publications in predatory journals. As the name implies, predatory journals are journals of dubious reputation that prey on authors with expensive publication fees, fast publication, and without proper review processes. The study also showed a high vulnerability to publication in predatory journals in developing countries that are driving an increase in international publications in Asia and North Africa. Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Fachri Aidulsyah et al, also found that 8 out of 10 professors (80%) have published their work in predatory or potentially predatory journals or those that cannot be relied upon for credibility (https:// www.kompas.id/artikel/guru-besar-indone- sia-entangled-journal-predator). Meanwhile, the latest issue that has gone viral on social media is the ‘extraordinary achievement’ of a minister who in the midst of his busy schedule can complete his doctoral studies at a well-known university in Indonesia within 20 months. Of course, many speculations have developed regarding these events. It all boils down to the issue of academic integrity.

In addition, the Kompas investigative report (2023), for example, revealed that the practice of perjury in writing scientific papers even involved prospective professors, a condition that indicates a violation of integrity among academics (https:// www.kompas.id/baca/investigasi/2023/02/09/calon-guru-besar-terlibat-perjokian-karya- scientific). The Tempo report (7 July 2024) also revealed the scandalous process of achieving professorship by submitting predatory journal articles and conniving with assessors, a process that is not accountable and contains indications of violations of academic integrity. In fact, some time ago a rector at a state Islamic university had to be removed due to plagiarism cases, in addition to other types of violations. As reported in the national media, bad luck befell a number of professors at Lambung Mangkurat University who were associated with issues of academic integrity violations and at the same time resulted in a decrease in the university's accreditation. These cases are indicative of behaviour that contradicts academic integrity, namely ‘commitment in the form of actions based on noble values in carrying out the tridharma activities of higher education’ and upholding the values of honesty, trust, justice, honour, responsibility and determination (Permendikbudristek number 39 of 2021). How to explain the various forms of academic integrity violation practices?

Academic misconduct or scientific misconduct can be defined as a violation of the scientific and academic code of ethics in scientific research and publication, which includes violations of scientific research methods and ethics in the aspects of research design, implementation, and reporting.  The Permendikbudristek states six forms of academic misconduct in scientific publications, namely fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unauthorised authorship, conflict of interest, and multiple submissions. The public, both academics and laymen, have often heard the term plagiarism as a criminal act of ‘stealing’ other people's work and recognising it as their own. But plagiarism does not only take the form of taking all or part of someone else's work or ideas without mentioning the source but can also take the form of re-copying someone else's writing without paraphrasing although mentioning the source. This form of plagiarism offence is quite common among academics although it receives less serious attention.

However, a form of academic integrity violation that is often committed but difficult to prove or tends to be ignored is unauthorised authorship, which is ‘the activity of a person who has no contribution to a scientific work in the form of ideas, opinions, and/or active roles related to the scientific field’ (Permendikbudristek). The two most common forms seem to be joining as co-authors without any contribution and having others create work on their behalf, commonly known as perjury or authorship through ghostwriters. In an investigative report by Kompas in 2023, perjury in the process of applying for professorship had involved campus structural officials, lecturers, and students. Among the written works in the form of articles published in predatory journals, it is very likely that there are results of the ghostwriter's production. Likewise, it is possible that journal articles submitted in the professor process from officials and politicians are the result of the production of jockeys as reported by Tempo.

Of course, there are many factors that cause the violation of academic integrity. Asep Muhammad Iqbal revealed the link between the factors of personal ambition, publication pressure, and the temptation of predatory journals as the cause of the proliferation of publications in predatory journals (https://jabar.nu.or.id/opini/ambisi-menjadi-profesor-dan-godaan-jurnal-predator-krHOd). More complete factors include publication pressure, lust for advancement and fame, personal problems, material interests, and cultural factors. All of these factors are interrelated with each other. Publication pressure can occur especially for professors who are subject to special obligations every three years, namely the publication of one reputable international journal article or three international journal articles and one book. Every professor must fulfil this obligation if they want to be considered a professor who is entitled to an honorary allowance of twice their basic salary every month. This means that this is also related to the material aspect and is of course an important part of the consequences of the lecturer profession.

However, the academic title of professor is often misunderstood. Many misunderstand professor as a title that can be obtained by anyone. In fact, professor is the highest academic position for lecturers, equivalent to general in the police and army, or equivalent to the title Kiai Haji in the Muslim community so that people whose positions are not lecturers are not entitled to get it. If that is the case, there is certainly something odd and it may even be related to issues of academic integrity violations such as unauthorised authorship. People who are not trained in writing scientific journal articles through a long academic journey from expert assistant (AA), lector (L), and chief lector (LK) to professors are unlikely to be able to produce reliable scientific work. Likewise, if one is not involved or experienced in various research activities ranging from designing, collecting data, processing and analysing data, as well as writing research results, how can one produce good scientific work that can be published in reputable scientific journals. Conducting research and publishing it in the form of scientific journal articles including writing titles, abstracts, introductions, research methods, results, discussions, and conclusions in papers that are in accordance with scientific principles requires habituation and experience. In fact, answering the results of the reviewer's review requires competence, skills, and patience.

Because of personal ambition, a shortcut mentality, and the supportive opportunities offered by predatory journals contribute to acts of academic integrity violations. Koentjaraningrat (1985) defines the mentality of bypassing as ‘a mentality that is eager to achieve its goals as quickly as possible without much willingness to try from the beginning step by step’ (1985: 46). People who have a slash-and-burn mentality do not value process and do not understand the importance of quality but are only result-orientated to fulfil personal ambitions. To wit: ‘the important thing is to become a professor and be called prof.’

The negative impact of violations of academic integrity is certainly very detrimental. Not only is there a loss of credibility for the academic world in general, but individual academics are also negatively stigmatised. We received information, for example, that international academics were warned to be careful if they wanted to collaborate with academics from Indonesia. In fact, Indonesia's academic ecosystem will be well developed if international academics and scientists join and collaborate in various academic activities which in turn contribute to improving the nation's competitiveness and community development. Data from The World Bank (2011) and UNESCO (2021) show a link between the quality of higher education and academic integrity. In countries with high levels of integrity, the contribution of higher education to societal development is much more positive. Conversely, in countries with low levels of academic integrity, the results of higher education are often not optimal and even tend to widen the gap in the quality of human resources. Therefore, higher education must rid itself of actions that lead to violations of academic integrity both among students and lecturers and not give space to non-academic people who have a mentality of passing into higher education.

Strengthening academic integrity means valuing every process of research, writing, and publication as an effort to add new treasures of knowledge, develop science and technology, improve the reputation of individuals and institutions, and improve the nation's competitiveness. Relevant ministries must be able to formulate appropriate, quality and sustainable education policies. Universities have an important role to play in promoting academic ethics programmes, socialising academic integrity as an effort to prevent forms of integrity violations, ensuring students and lecturers understand and comply with the code of ethics, and implementing rewards and punishments regarding academic achievements. As professionals, lecturers continue to strive to improve the necessary competencies and uphold academic integrity in order to multiply their professional performance so that they can become role models for colleagues and students. In short, it is a necessity for all parties to improve the academic ecosystem that can strengthen commitment to academic integrity as a prerequisite for investing in the quality of Indonesia's superior and highly competitive human resources.