The Criminological Evaluation of Cybercrimes Within Higher Learning Institutions. A Case Study of University of Venda: Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study evaluated the nature and extent of cybercrimes prevalent within higher learning institutions of South Africa. Cyber-attacks are growing at a distressing rate and has posed a serious challenge within academia by impacting and disrupting normal learning setting. Universities data infrastructure is vulnerable to criminals, can be compromised easily while students and staff are not alien to proportion of cybercrime impact inclusive of hacking, financial loss, bullying, illegal circulation of pornography, blackmailing’s, extortion and many other crimes. This case study evaluated cybercrimes at the University of Venda (Univen). It therefore, evaluated if Univen have institutional framework for managing cybercrimes and cybersecurity risk, also assess if it has been efficient to counteract cybercrimes impact against the university and students. Mixed method approach applied, where snowballing sample procedure was utilised to quantitatively sample Univen students, and purposive sampling was applied to sample Univen Information Communication Technology officials. The researcher utilised the routine activities theory and differential association theory of crime as the study problem framework. Sample was selected based on their suitability of contributing towards research; Focus group discussions, questionnaires and voice recorder were used to collect data. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA), was used to analyse qualitative data and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for quantitative data analysis. The study made findings and recommendations that could be used to inform adoption of framework to manage cybercrimes within higher education institutions (HEI) of South Africa and to find alternatives programmes that will positively address cyber incidents within academia.