'87 professors falsely named children as paper co-authors'

Lee Seung-bok, managing director of the university affairs and academic research policy bureau of the Ministry of Education, announces the results of an inspection into malpractice by university professors, during a press briefing at the ministry office in Sejong, Monday. /Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Nearly 90 professors have registered their children as co-authors of their theses although they did not participate in the research, a government inspection showed, Monday.

More than 500 professors also took part in even “fake” academic conferences where they could present their papers without any screening by paying a fee, according to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The ministries' inspection revealed that 87 professors at 50 universities nationwide named their underage children or relatives as co-authors in 139 of their papers since 2007. Many of the children were middle or high school students at the time.

Seven of the 87 professors did so in 12 papers although their children were not involved in the studies. Among the eight involved children, two later went to universities here and six went to overseas institutions. The ministries and the universities are examining whether the fake involvement in the papers affected their admissions. The education ministry said it notified the universities abroad of the inspection results.

For the other 127 papers, the professors' schools said the children seemed to have participated in the research, but the education ministry concluded they did not in at least 85 papers.

Among the 85 theses, 51 were sponsored by government organizations including the defense ministry. The education ministry told the organizations to reassess the papers and take appropriate measures such as requesting the research money be returned.

Some of the professors have already been subject to disciplinary action from the schools or will face measures after further investigation.

The authorities also confirmed 574 professors from 90 universities nationwide participated in “predatory” conferences organized by two academic societies ― the World Academy of Science Engineering and Technology (WASET) and OMICS International. The two societies are used as tools for professors to exaggerate their research achievements by presenting their papers without screening, the ministries said.

The professors took part in the conferences over 808 times since 2014, and 473 professors' participation fees were paid by their schools or from government-sponsored research funds. Seven of them participated more than six times, with one attending 11 meetings and spending 33 million won ($27,870) in government funds.

Only five of the 574 professors were punished by their schools, while others were given a slap on the wrist or are awaiting disciplinary action.

Regarding the 473 professors sponsored by government organizations, they and the education ministry are taking steps to review their provision of funding and recover any money used improperly.

The education ministry said it would carry out an in-depth investigation into 15 universities where a large number of professors were involved in such malpractice, including Seoul National, Yonsei, Sungkyunkwan, Kyungpook National and Chung-Ang universities.