Abstract:
Countries steadfastly pursue academia as a necessary step towards socio-economic development, which
places a mandate on institutions of higher learning to stir host-country economies through university
deliverables. In Zimbabwe, this entails the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology
Development’s ‘doctrine’ spelling out the philosophy of ‘Education 5.0’ which emphasises teaching/learning,
research, community engagement, innovation, and commercialisation of goods and services. However,
academic dishonesty, such as that through ‘sexually transmitted marks’ (STM), threatens the realisation
of such mandates. Although the norm is that such sexual transactions are initiated by academics, evidence
shows students also initiate such relationships. Consequently, efforts to eliminate this threat to academic
integrity should not only focus on lecturers, but also be extended to students. This paper contributes towards
unmasking experiences of STM between male lecturers and female students, female lecturers and male
students, and female students and male students, as determined from former university students and
university alumni in Bulawayo. Exposing these practices allows for open consultation and adoption of good
practices from similar institutions worldwide
