Objective: This study aimed to synthesize fragmented qualitative findings on academic ethics and to develop an integrated conceptual framework for ethics in higher education.
Method: This qualitative study employed a meta-synthesis approach following Sandelowski and Barroso (2007). Through systematic searching, screening, and quality appraisal, 30 studies were selected. Their findings were analyzed using coding, constant comparison, and thematic synthesis. Research procedures were documented and reviewed to enhance trustworthiness.
Results: The findings revealed four dimensions of academic ethics organized across three interconnected levels: the micro level (moral character and ethical values; ethical practices in teaching and research), the meso level (cultural, organizational, and structural contexts), and the institutional level (ethical governance and formal regulatory mechanisms). Relationships among these levels are reciprocal and nonhierarchical.
Conclusion: Academic ethics constitutes an interactive, multilevel system that extends beyond individual conduct and regulatory compliance. The proposed framework provides a basis for designing coordinated policy and implementation interventions across educational, organizational, and institutional levels to strengthen and institutionalize academic ethics