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Higher Education Minister tackles SU cheaters

March 02, 2012
Morten Østergaard has initiated an action plan to tackle the problem of fraudulent SU claimants. Notice has been sent to all education institutions as the first step.

All youth educational institutions are receiving a joint open letter from Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard and Minister for Children and Education Christine Antorini. The letter recommends that it is made crystal clear to all students that fraudulent SU claims are a serious matter that will not go unnoticed.

In the letter, the ministers recommend that educational management make it clear to students that there are consequences for claiming public funds fraudulently.

– We have noted that more and more young people are being required to pay back funds, especially because they have fraudulently claimed the SU grant paid to those living away from home. This is not on. Therefore we are broadening our efficient cooperation with local councils to tighten the net on those who are cheating. We are strengthening the guidance for local SU employees so that they may nip more cheating in the bud. And we are asking educational institutions to make clear to young people that cheating is not acceptable and can result in heavy penalties when caught. Hopefully we can discourage more from cheating, while also catching more of those who continue to do so, says Morten Østergaard.

The letter is part of a larger action plan to avoid the misuse of SU funds. The Higher Education Ministry is intensifying the effort against SU fraud on three fronts: increased cooperation with local councils, information campaigns for students and closer cooperation with educational institutions.

The task of reducing SU fraud is being solved in close cooperation with the council control groups, which have the primary task of identifying social welfare fraud. This cooperation has intensified significantly in recent years, resulting in a noticeable rise in fraud cases. For example, the number of cases in 2009 was 60, while 105 cases were brought in 2010. That number is expected to increase to a total of 200 for 2011.

Another effort in the initiative is the "fraud-barometer" on the SU website, www.su.dk. The barometer illustrates how much money has been recalled from students who have cheated. It will be regularly updated in line with the increased number of students required to pay back their fraudulently claimed SU.

For further information please contact:

Head of division Peter Nielsen, tel: +45 7231 7990.
Press officer Ingeborg Nielsen, tel: +45 2211 0200.

Every Dane over the age of 18 is entitled to public support for his or her further education – regardless of social standing.

Read about the scheme and the conditions for grants and loans – at su.dk: http://www.su.dk/English/Sider/default.aspx

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