Scholars with fraud proposed to be punished

BEIJING - A Chinese political advisor on Tuesday proposed harsh penalty for scholars implicated in academic fraud to clean up the country's academic field.

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Shao Hong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), the top political advisory body, also called for the establishment of an academic appraisal system with less emphasis on quantity of academic papers and awards.

Shao believed there were loopholes in China's current evaluation system, which requires scholars to publish a set number of academic papers if they wish to get promoted.

"To some extent, the appraisal system has made some scholars gear towards quick success and instant benefit," Shao, who is also the deputy head of the Central Institute of Socialism, told a press conference at the ongoing annual session of the National Committee of the CPPCC.

Shao called for the government to set up a body to supervise academic misconduct and implement a "zero tolerance" policy against academic fraud.

China has stepped up its fight against academic misconduct.

On Feb 1, China revoked the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award,the country's top academic honor, given to Li Liansheng, a former professor of Xi'an Jiaotong University after whistleblowers revealed plagiarism in his works and data fabrication in his winning project.

In February 2010, China released a circular with specified punishments for students who plagiarize or commit fraud.

Schools can postpone or refuse to grant degrees to cheats. They can even revoke degrees already awarded. Tutors of students who commit fraud can be suspended or removed from their post, and all people who involved in the case will be punished according to the relevant regulations, the circular said.