The BAK and its activities in the field of education – Anti-Corruption Workshops and Anti-Corruption Events

Countries

Austria

Policy areas

Organisation name Austrian Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption

Contact person: Sandra Brinnich

BMI-III-BAK-1-1@bak.gv.at

The BAK’s activities in the field of education include anti-corruption events and anti-corruption workshops. The BAK offers the ‘anti-corruption workshops’ for students to ensure the target-oriented and sustainable dissemination of corruption prevention content. As many methods are used during the workshop, the students are encouraged to deal with the topics of corruption, corruption prevention and promotion of integrity in a critical way. They should also work on these subjects on their own to a certain extent so they have as many ‘light-bulb’ moments as possible and can use what they have learned in their everyday and professional life.

The anti-corruption workshops are held in a traditional school setting. During this training, the circle seating arrangement is preferred to facilitate a pleasant atmosphere giving scope for discussion and to ensure maximum involvement of the students. In addition to these workshops, the BAK offers an ‘anti-corruption event’. The BAK developed the present concept of an anti-corruption event to reach more students at the same time and to ensure sustainability in the dissemination of corruption prevention content. There is a deliberate departure from the rather traditional age-homogenous school setting, meaning that the classroom doors will be opened and, if possible, the premises of the whole school will be used during the anti-corruption event. At several stations, the students get to know different content on the topics of corruption prevention and promotion of integrity in small groups.

When dividing the students into groups, the BAK gives importance to mixing classes and grades. The anti-corruption workshops and events were designed for students of academic secondary schools as well as intermediate and upper-level vocational schools (upper secondary school students aged 14 to 19). The aim of these activities is to contribute to the adolescents’ development in a holistic way, with the focus being on cognitive, emotional and behavioural skills. Self-competence, social competence, competence regarding ethical standards and social structures, emotional-affective competence, language competence and creative competence should be promoted; they also receive corruption-related cognitive skills. The students get to know the basics, definitions, mechanisms, possible forms of and background on the phenomenon of corruption, and their awareness regarding corrupt acts is increased. They are made aware of the dangers of corruption and learn about measures to prevent it. The students are made familiar with relevant legal provisions and social norms. They are encouraged to critically discuss the phenomenon of corruption and to reflect on related issues. As the content is very practice-oriented, the students are able to apply it to their current everyday and future professional life, thus enhancing their general and professional skills. In the framework of further activities, they can explore the topic of compliance, an approach to prevent non-compliant behaviour, in more detail.

Anti-corruption workshops and events are regularly advertised in schools. The BAK’s educational activities are presented in newsletters sent to schools throughout Austria. Contacts have also been established with teachers of training institutions. These institutions also regularly inform schools about the BAK’s services. There is also more contact with teachers who have already worked with BAK, so that further opportunities for cooperation arise. In some schools, the anti-corruption event is seen as a highlight, so students regularly ask for it.

The fact that the students and their teachers came up with the idea of submitting the anti-corruption event themselves reflects their interest in the topic and enthusiasm for the event. Sustainability thus results from:

  • the pedagogical-didactic concept for anti-corruption activities;
  • the participation of as many stakeholders as possible, from planning, which is always carried out with at least one teacher;
  • anti-corruption training for teachers (a full day is dedicated to the topic for students and finally, a follow-up phase is offered).

On the other hand, certain committed teachers, after an event or workshop day, offer activities on the subject of corruption beyond those offered by the BAK. This is how the BAK, TI-AC, principals, teachers and students join forces to work towards a corruption-free future.

One insight that the BAK could gain and that could also be relevant for other companies or authorities is that as many stakeholders as possible should be involved in the implementation of projects. The more people become enthusiastic about a project, the more people can be reached and the more sustainable it is to work towards a goal. The more people can be taken on board, the greater the acceptance for the project.

The BAK’s offers initially did not raise much interest. Only when a school and a dedicated teacher became involved and successfully organised an anti-corruption event, did the project and the cooperation between BAK, TI-AC and the school materialise. It is no longer necessary to advertise the activities as schools are already asking the BAK directly. To ensure the sustainability and success of a project, it is therefore recommended to engage intensive cooperation with external partners. It was through this exchange that the project could be developed and the content could be adapted precisely to the target group.

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