ed Shame on professors

Blind love for children goes too far

It is shocking news that professors at 29 universities were found to have named their children as co-authors in dissertations over the past 10 years. The Ministry of Education disclosed the finding last week, implying many professors violated research ethics to help their children, mostly high school juniors and seniors, boost their academic profiles for university admissions.

The ministry should investigate further to confirm if any children of the professors actually received admissions with the undue help of their parents. In all likelihood, professors listed their children as co-authors even though their offspring did not participate in or contribute to research. Thus it can be inferred professors have done so only to get their children admitted to prestigious universities.

The finding showed professors inserted their children as co-authors of dissertations in 82 cases between February 2007 and October 2017. Thirty-nine of the cases took place at 16 universities as part of a joint program with high schools. Under the so-called Research and Education Project, professors are allowed to supervise paper writing of middle or high school students. Eight cases occurred in Sungkyunkwan University, seven in Yonsei University, and six each in Seoul National University and Kookmin University.

The original purpose of the project is to encourage teen students to contribute to research activities of professors. But no one can rule out the possibility of professors abusing the program to benefit their own children in the college admissions process. Now it’s time to ferret out those who used the program in an illegal way.

Professors must have gone too far in parental love for their children. If they were found to have unfairly included their children as authors in dissertations, they have no choice but to face criminal charges. Such an act is a betrayal of conscience and the breach of research ethics. Violators should be subject to stern punishment.