Call for Papers
JPCEF – 01/2026
Title: Countering Education Fraud: Challenges, Practices and Responses
In line with the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)18
This Call for Papers invites original scholarly contributions that examine education fraud as a multifaceted phenomenon affecting education systems, public trust and the integrity of academic and professional pathways. It is issued in line with the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)18, which sets out key principles and measures for preventing and countering education fraud. The call seeks to explore how fraudulent practices emerge, evolve and are addressed across different educational contexts, governance frameworks and societal settings.
Education fraud encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at deception or unfair advantage, including falsification of qualifications, contract cheating, diploma and accreditation mills, fraudulent recognition procedures, and the misuse of digital technologies in learning and assessment environments. These practices undermine the credibility of education, distort merit-based opportunities and pose significant challenges to equity, transparency and democratic participation.
The purpose of this call is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on the prevention, detection and governance of education fraud, as well as on the ethical, social and institutional responses developed to counter it. Contributions are encouraged to move beyond purely descriptive accounts and to engage critically with structural, legal, technological and cultural dimensions of the phenomenon. Submissions are welcome from a range of disciplines, including education studies, law, public policy, sociology, criminology, ethics, and digital studies.
Themes and Topics
Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• Conceptual and definitional approaches to education fraud
• Emerging forms of fraud in digital, online and transnational education
• Academic integrity, ethics and institutional responsibility
• Legal and regulatory responses to fraudulent educational practices
• Quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of qualifications
• Contract cheating, essay mills and commercialisation of assessment
• Cross-border education fraud and international mobility
• Social, economic and ethical consequences of education fraud
• Governance, transparency and accountability in education systems
• Preventive strategies, awareness-raising and integrity cultures
Contributions may focus on any level or form of education, including compulsory education, vocational education and training, higher education, lifelong learning and online education.
Abstract Rules:
Abstracts (maximum 1,500 characters, in English) should clearly outline the research focus, the methodology or analytical approach, and the relevance of the contribution to the theme. Authors are also required to provide six keywords in English and to specify the language in which the full article will be written.
Please also include a short author biography, including:
• First name and surname
• Research interests (please do not include a publication list)
• Institutional affiliation (university/institution) and current role/position
Submissions must be sent exclusively in Word format (.doc or .docx) to the Editorial Staff
