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University of Duisburg-Essen Bribery Scandal Ends in Prison Sentences

A former employee and student admitted to altering grades for bribes, shaking trust in academic integrity and prompting institutional reforms.

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Weil sie Studenten bessere Noten gegen Geld verschaffte, ist eine Universitätsmitarbeiterin vom Landgericht Essen zu einer Freiheitsstrafe verurteilt worden. Die Frau wurde zu drei Jahren und neun Monaten Haft verurteilt, wie ein Gerichtssprecher sagte.

Overview

  • The Essen Regional Court sentenced a 42-year-old former university administrator to three years and nine months in prison and a 39-year-old former student to three years for bribery and corruption.
  • Between 2017 and 2021, the pair manipulated the grades of at least 35 students in exchange for payments totaling over €90,000.
  • Students paid up to €900 to turn failed exams into passes, with additional fees for small grade improvements, exploiting uncontrolled access to the university’s IT system.
  • Participating students have faced fines, probation, and revocation of credits or degrees, as investigations revealed their involvement in the scheme.
  • The university has since strengthened exam oversight and IT access controls to restore trust in its academic processes, following public criticism of the breach.