1 Ali Pajaziti * Shqipe Gërguri-Rashiti ** TOWARDS UNIVERSITY ETHICS AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: ADRESSING AND FIGHTING CORRUPTION keywords: higher education, corruption, bribery, ethics, young’s values, Republic of Macedonia 1. Abstract Corruption (lat. corruptio, corrumpere, i.e., to distort, pervert) as phenomenon very present in transitional countries, is abuse of public power for personal interests that have negative impact on whole social dynamics. It is a well-known issue that is present from political parties, police, judiciary, public officials, to education, on global basis. There are no societies that are immune, even countries with the high level of well-being (Norway-religious bodies, Denmark-private sector). Long-lasting transition countries suffer more from this cancerous social fact: According Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, in Macedonia (FYROM) in 2011 corruptive issues increased for 46 %, in Bosnia 59 %, Croatia 57 %. The empirical part of this research, done in April 2012, is based on semi- structured interviews (21 basic questions) with 25 alumni of different private and state universities in Macedonia, which answered our questions on their experience on corruption throughout their higher education cycle. From the analytical approach we concluded that other forms of corruption (favoritism, book buying, sexual services) are more present than bribery or direct payment in our universities, that reporting corruption cases is not occurring from revenge fear and that all student declare that corruption damages education and their future prospect. 2. Ethics and Moral Panic * Associate Professor, South East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia. (a.pajaziti@seeu.edu.mk , alipajaziti.net) ** Assistant Professor, South East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia. (s.gerguri@seeu.edu.mk )