Lithuanian PM Sinkavicius given six months to fix plagiarism in doctoral thesis

The official is obliged to rectify the deficiencies in the scientific work within six months, otherwise he faces the loss of his doctoral degree. This decision was made by the ethics commission of ISM University of Management and Economics while reviewing the doctoral dissertation of Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkavicius.

Results of the scientific work review

Experts at ISM University analysed in detail the 2015 dissertation dedicated to the topic of alcohol consumption. During the review, specialists recorded five cases of plagiarism and two cases of improper use of text that did not constitute plagiarism. According to the commission's conclusion, these actions contradict the principles of academic integrity in force at the university, as well as the requirements for the independence of doctoral research.

Conditions for rectification and possible consequences

Instead of the immediate revocation of the academic degree, the commission proposed that the rector instruct the dean of the graduate school to establish specific requirements for the corrections. These requirements must be published within 60 calendar days. After the list of necessary changes is approved, Sinkavicius will have six months to implement them.

The revised dissertation will be re-examined by the doctoral committee, after which the document will be published along with an appendix containing a description of the corrections made. If the Prime Minister refuses to rectify the violations within the specified deadlines, the commission may recommend initiating the procedure to strip him of his doctoral degree.

Commission's position and the Prime Minister's reaction

The commission's decision states that the immediate revocation of the degree would be a disproportionate punishment. The review also found no violations in the procedure for evaluating or defending the work. Mindaugas Sinkavicius accepted the commission's conclusions and promised to prepare the appropriate corrections.

«Я сам провів аналіз даних і сформулював висновки. Тому я ніколи не сумнівався у своїй роботі, але не заперечую виявлених порушень» (I myself conducted the data analysis and formulated the conclusions. Therefore, I never doubted my work, but I do not dispute the violations identified), he told the BNS news agency on Friday.