The Shadow Scholars: Exposing the Global Contract Cheating Industry

The academic world faces a hidden crisis that threatens the integrity of higher education worldwide. Sociologist Patricia Kingori, who became one of the youngest women and the youngest Black person to achieve a full professorship at the University of Oxford at just 28, is bringing this issue to light through her documentary 'The Shadow Scholars.' The film, executive-produced by 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen, investigates the multibillion-dollar contract cheating industry that connects students in wealthy nations with ghostwriters in developing countries.

The Scale of Contract Cheating

Contract cheating represents a massive global industry that has been operating largely in the shadows. Research indicates that at least one in seven graduates worldwide have used academic ghostwriting services, according to a 2018 study. Kenya has emerged as a central hub for this industry, with surveys suggesting that more than 70% of its online freelance workforce engages in 'writing and translation' – often a euphemism for academic ghostwriting.

The scale of this operation is staggering. An estimated 40,000 highly educated but underemployed young people in Nairobi ghostwrite everything from undergraduate essays to master's dissertations and PhD theses. These writers often produce several essays daily with tight deadlines, creating a sophisticated system that services students primarily from wealthy, industrialized nations.

Systemic Issues in Higher Education

Kingori's research reveals that contract cheating is not merely an individual ethical failing but reflects deeper systemic problems in global education. The documentary explores how both students in the global north and ghostwriters in Kenya have been failed by what Kingori describes as a 'broken social contract' – the promise that hard work and education will lead to prosperity.

In the United States, which accounts for the majority of the essay writers' business, students face enormous debt pressures, work multiple jobs while studying, and scramble for internships just to stay financially afloat. Meanwhile, in Kenya, restrictions on international travel visas and low wages make it difficult for educated individuals to leave the country, undermining the traditional view of education as a passport to opportunity.

Challenging Assumptions About Knowledge Production

One of the most surprising findings from Kingori's work is how prejudice shapes assumptions about who produces knowledge. When people learn about contract cheating, they typically imagine out-of-work academics in the United Kingdom or United States writing the papers. The reality is that young, bright Kenyans who may have never left their country possess the skills to produce PhD-level work for prestigious institutions.

Kingori also discovered that ghostwriters have existed throughout academic history, often comprising women, migrants, and others excluded from mainstream academia. The documentary shares the story of Patricia Owtram, a Somerville College student in the 1950s whose thesis was published under her supervisor's name until the college returned it to her with proper attribution in 2023.

Moving Toward Solutions

Governments in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and some US and Indian states have taken initial steps to combat contract cheating by outlawing advertising by commercial 'essay mills.' However, demand continues to grow despite these measures, indicating that legal approaches alone may be insufficient.

Kingori's work suggests that addressing contract cheating requires confronting broader issues about the value of ideas, where knowledge comes from, and who gets invited into academic spaces. The surprising empathy that Kenyan writers express for students in the global north – understanding that both groups face similar pressures and broken promises – points to the need for systemic reform rather than individual blame.

The shadow scholars industry represents a complex challenge that intersects with issues of global inequality, educational access, and academic integrity. As Kingori's documentary makes clear, solving this problem requires acknowledging the humanity and circumstances of all involved while working to create educational systems that serve rather than exploit students and writers alike.