2024-12-05

Ombudsperson Dr. Reda Cimmperman Appointed as Lithuania’s Representative to the ETINED Platform: A Significant Step Toward Strengthening Ethics and Transparency in the Academic Community

Dr. Reda Cimmperman, the Chief Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania, has been appointed by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania as the country’s representative to the Council of Europe’s Platform on Ethics, Transparency, and Integrity in Education (ETINED). She has been entrusted with representing Lithuania’s interests, fostering leadership in this field, and promoting the highest ethical standards at both the national and European levels.

“The appointment to represent Lithuania on the ETINED platform is a significant responsibility and honor. Education is the cornerstone of a just and democratic society, and its transparency is a fundamental condition. Lithuania is firmly committed to collaborating with European partners to develop solutions that foster transparency, trust, and integrity within the academic community,” stated Dr. Cimmperman.

This appointment underscores Lithuania’s strong commitment to promoting transparency and integrity in the education and research system. Representing Lithuania on the ETINED platform, Dr. Cimmperman will actively contribute to the organization’s initiatives and, alongside other ETINED members, will strive to:

Develop mechanisms ensuring the reliability of qualifications and safeguarding student rights,
Implement measures to combat dishonest education service providers and ensure institutional accountability,
Promote artificial intelligence solutions that effectively combat fraud while adhering to ethical principles,
Organize seminars and integrate academic transparency into educational programs to enhance awareness among students and educators.

For the first time in her new role, Dr. Cimmperman participated in the 8th ETINED Annual Meeting held on November 26–27, 2024, at Guglielmo Marconi University in Rome, Italy. The meeting addressed the major challenges faced by European countries in 2024, shared best practices, and outlined goals for the coming year in the field of ethics.

During the meeting, discussions highlighted the financial, psychological, and systemic impacts of fraud on students, educators, and institutions. Participants explored strategies for ensuring transparency and building trust. The complexities of balancing quality assurance with the growing demand for international academic programs and the risks posed by unregulated or unaccredited educational institutions were also discussed. Furthermore, research findings were presented, revealing limited student understanding of academic fraud and emphasizing the importance of training to address this issue.

Established in October 2015, ETINED’s mission is to share information and best practices, promote the application of ethical behavior principles at all levels of education, and foster an ethical culture. The platform seeks to ensure that quality education is grounded in the principles of democracy, participation, and ethics. Corruption prevention is approached not only through legal mechanisms but also by strengthening moral values. ETINED encourages representatives to commit to positive ethical principles, recognizing that only collective efforts can create a sustainable and fair academic environment.

For more information, visit the official ETINED website: www.coe.int.