Universities fire academics over research paper fraud

Universities fire academics over research paper fraud
Supachai Pathumnakul, assistant permanent director for The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, discloses the result of the agency’s spacecraft into cases of research papers scam at a meeting on July 16. ( Photo: Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation Facebook )

Six academics from three universities have been sacked and eight others are being investigated over cases of research paper fraud, according to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation ( MHESI).

Three Khon Kaen University educators were fired, and they will now face charges in court.

Two lecturers from Chiang Mai University ( CMU) and one from Chulabhorn Royal Academy were the others who were fired, according to the MHESI’s deputy permanent secretary Supachai Pathumnakul.

A report last year that claimed a CMU professor had purchased his papers for 30 000 ringgit led to an investigation into the case of fake research documents involving 109 scientists from 33 universities.

The research found 14 university educators, including a former high-ranking administrative of Thaksin University, were involved in committing fraud, Mr Supachai said.

A commission has been established, according to Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi, and its people have already met with executives from the colleges in question.

The commission, chaired by Mr Supachai, has demanded the universities submit data within 15 weeks.

She said the research is anticipated to be finished second month.

The government will put forth rigorous rules to regulate the rules, procedures, and deadlines for releasing and submitting higher education data to stop such things from happening again, she added.

She explained that institutions are required to provide the ministry with verification of their graduates ‘ academic records.