Academic integrity among undergraduate students: Does academic environment matter?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65956/leqa.2026.54

Keywords:

academic environment, dishonesty, integrity, policy, higher education institution

Abstract

This research paper investigates the impact of the academic environment on undergraduate students’ academic dishonesty. It also examines the relationship between students’ awareness and the frequency of engaging in dishonest behaviours. Data was collected from 2,088 students in three Vietnamese universities, ensuring anonymity for honest responses. The findings highlight the significant role of the academic environment in shaping students’ awareness and involvement in academic dishonesty. Honour codes show promise in promoting academic integrity, and their implementation is recommended as a proactive measure. Surprisingly, despite being aware of the ethical unacceptability, students still choose to cheat or plagiarize. Educating students about academic integrity is crucial to increasing awareness and effectively addressing this issue. By fostering a culture of honesty and ethical conduct, higher educational institutions can tackle academic dishonesty more effectively.

Author Biographies

  • Vu Hung Dang, An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

    Vu Hung Dang is Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. He holds a PhD in International Business and researches consumer behavior, organizational behavior, and education. His work appears in leading journals, and he actively supervises graduate students and participates in international conferences.

  • Long Thanh Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City Open University

    Long Thanh Nguyen is a scholar in business administration with expertise in consumer behavior and educational psychology. He earned his PhD from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and has published in reputable international journals such as Educational Psychology, Learning Environments Research, and Australasian Marketing Journal. He actively contributes to business and educational research.

  • Huong Thien Thi Le, An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

    Huong Thien Thi Le is a lecturer at An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, specializing in agricultural economics and agribusiness management. Her research focuses on value chain analysis and economic efficiency in agriculture. She has participated in several research projects and actively contributes to teaching and supervising undergraduate students.

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How to Cite

Dang, V. H., Nguyen, L. T., & Le, H. T. T. (2026). Academic integrity among undergraduate students: Does academic environment matter?. Journal of Leadership and Quality in Education, 1(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.65956/leqa.2026.54
Received: 27-03-2026
Accepted: 08-04-2026
Published: 24-04-2026

Full-text Version

Published:

24-04-2026

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Section

Empirical Research Articles

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