The Being that we are: Towards a culture of legality from the academic and institutional levels.

In the midst of the current era of complexity and uncertainty and of lifestyles that develop in a dynamic, volatile and changing manner, speaking of the identity culture of social groups is uncertain, since adaptations to changes must take place in the immediacy and demands of the new times. Thus, customs, traditions, norms, beliefs, symbols, language and technology, cultivated from generation to generation as traits of specific groups, are now part of the global environments shared by people.

Culture, then, is an extended concept that encompasses ways of living, value systems and beliefs based on this transcendent view, beyond age, geographic or community boundaries. This has allowed us to observe a distortion of the fundamental values and principles that have guided community life, turning into ways of life that give little consideration to mutual respect, subtle consideration for others, care for the environment and even care for oneself; in short, there is a profound affectation of ethical behavior (based on principles and values) of human conduct.

Legality, in correspondence with culture, is an essential principle that must be deeply integrated into the academic and institutional environments. This concept not only implies compliance with laws and the aforementioned “should be” through a rule, but also the conscious adoption of ethical and moral values that promote a fair and harmonious coexistence within educational institutions and organizations of any kind, which in the end are the visible, differentiating mark and for which institutions and people must be recognized later on, based on what we are and how we act.

The culture of legality in the academic and institutional sphere
In the academic context, the culture of legality is manifested through academic integrity, honesty in research, respect for copyrights, probative conduct, including mutual respect, non-discrimination and fair conflict resolution, virtues that are part of the imminent human dignity that shapes us. That is why education in ethical values is crucial to cultivate responsibility and commitment as personal virtues that contribute to social welfare. According to Mahecha (2014), the culture of legality in education is a strategy against violence and corruption, which seeks to generate a cultural change through training processes.

Academic integrity is a fundamental component for the development of a culture of legality. This includes the prevention of plagiarism, fraud and other forms of academic misconduct. Educational institutions must implement clear policies and control mechanisms to ensure that students and academic staff not only understand and respect these norms, but also internalize them for the common good on an ongoing basis. According to a recent study by Garcia and Lopez (2022), the implementation of academic integrity programs has proven to be effective in reducing incidents of plagiarism and promoting a culture of honesty and accountability.

At the institutional level, the culture of legality is reflected in transparency, accountability and respect for established norms. Institutions should foster an environment where legality is a core value, promoting ethical and responsible practices. Ruiz (2023) emphasizes that the culture of legality is essential for the maintenance of the rule of law and democratic stability, and that its construction depends on the active participation of civil society and the implementation of effective strategies, which argues and justifies an education of the Self for its future social performance.

This means that by deepening from the academic and institutional environment an imprint for the formation of values, principles, belief systems and ethical performance, a culture based on good practices can be developed and become a powerful tool to be a role model, create optimal learning environments, share a legacy in the community and educate upright and responsible individuals who contribute positively to society.

Actions to promote and train in a culture of legality through education.

To promote and train in a culture of legality, it is essential to develop educational programs that include the formation of ethical and legal values from an early age, because what is experienced becomes experience and contributes to subsequent action, given that training in values is not a standard to comply with and be
measured on a numerical scale, it is an intrinsic formation that begins in the first years of birth, continues throughout life and becomes concrete when behavior is demonstrated in the social environment.

For this, the intervention of the family is vital and the insertion in an educational system that contributes to a formation in accordance with the good practices mentioned above, is the added value necessary to dynamize the urgent social changes in this era of volatility and constant changes. According to a study by Pérez and Martínez (2023), educational programs that integrate the teaching of legality and ethics have proven to be effective in the formation of more conscious and responsible citizens.

In this light, institutions can organize various activities to raise awareness among students and staff of the importance of legality and ethics in their daily activities. One effective strategy is the inclusion of education on legality issues in school and university curricula. In this regard, new times are already on the horizon and the Ministry of Education of Ecuador has raised its flag by implementing the

Curriculum Insertion Model: Civics, Ethics and Integrity Education (2024).
This indicates that there is a commitment with the new generations and actions begin to germinate, as expressed by the minister in the text: “We firmly believe in the transforming power of these disciplines, we see them as antidotes for complex times, in which the lack of values has deepened apathy and diminished the ability of our students to do and sustain good practices” (Alegría Crespo, 2024, p. 4). This translates into a co-responsibility where we all have to join efforts, starting by reflecting on what we are internally, what we do towards the environment and what we wish for a promising future and well-being for all.

Final considerations:

1. Legality as an academic and institutional culture is a fundamental pillar for the development of fair and equitable societies.
2. Education in ethical values and the implementation of transparent and responsible practices are essential to foster a culture of legality that contributes to social welfare and the strengthening of the rule of law.
3. The promotion of legality must be an ongoing and collaborative effort, involving all members of the academic and institutional community, including families.
4. Continuous training and awareness of the importance of legality, ethics and fundamental human values are also key aspects for consolidating a culture of good practices, a culture of peace, a culture of healthy environments.
5. The most meritorious value will come from each person who, from an internal reflective process, decides to be part of a culture of peace, justice and human integrity.

References

Mahecha, E (2014). Education and culture of legality. Justicia Juris, 10(2), 36-43 Retrieved from SciELO:  

http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1692- 85712014000200005 

Ministry of Education of Ecuador (2024). Curricular Insertion: Civic Education, Ethics and Integrity. First Edition. Republic of Ecuador. 

Ruiz, J. F. (2023). The culture of legality and its impact on democratic stability. Mexican Bulletin of Comparative Law, 49(137), 200-220.