Academic integrity as a core value for masters of laws: legal and pedagogical aspects

The concept of academic integrity and its place in the system of values of future Masters of Laws are considered in the article. Using terminological analysis, the essential characteristics of “integrity” and “academic integrity” categories are determined. An overview of the legislation regulating the relations of participants in the educational process in the context of academic integrity is made. It is emphasized that the Masters of Laws’ academic integrity is one of the important components of the activity component of value and semantic competence. It is noted that the formation of academic integrity begins in the process of obtaining education and takes place in both legal and pedagogical aspects. The legal aspect is to identify different types of violations of academic integrity and to establish legal consequences for these violations. It is emphasized that the pedagogical aspect involves educational activities of HEIs among law students on the implementation of the principles of academic integrity. The relationship between the pedagogical and legal aspects of compliance with the norms of academic integrity is determined. The six fundamental principles developed by the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), which ensure the implementation of academic integrity in HEIs educational process, are presented and substantiated. It is emphasized that it is effective to use online surveys of educational process participants to monitor the implementation of academic integrity. This requires the development of appropriate questionnaires by HEI staff. On the example of the Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, there are considered the measures by which the principles of academic integrity can be effectively implemented in HEIs: guest online lectures with the participation of invited lecturers; webinars during which experienced professionals discuss with higher education applicants any complex issues related to the problems of academic integrity; information and awareness-raising events for everyone, where students share their own experiences and exchange useful information. It is proved that the constant popularization of the ideas of academic integrity among law students through the proper organization of a value-forming educational environment creates conditions for morally conscious lawyer training.