Abstract:
Academic integrity is a key measure of the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of higher education
systems. This article explores how a quality assurance agency can foster a conducive environment for
academic quality and integrity. A self-study methodology was used, with a focus on the insights and
experiences of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education over a 10-year period. The findings show that
by assuming an innovative and transformational leadership role in instilling a culture of self-evaluation, as
well as maintaining its own integrity, an external quality assurance agency can improve academic integrity.
The article adds value to the existing knowledge by advancing the higher education ecosystem approach as
an integrity-based panacea and conducive way to induce integrity to flow from all players as opposed to the
use of heavy-handed regulatory approaches
