Chulalongkorn University is currently under pressure from an alumni group, Network of Universities Reform, to reveal the findings of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent doctoral research paper.

 

The contentious thesis, penned by Nattapon Jaijin, has been under scrutiny for three years, a fact that has sparked frustration within the group.

 

The group’s leader, Wirangrong Dabbaransi, has taken to Facebook to voice her displeasure and call for transparency from the university. She confirmed that the investigation has concluded, and its findings have been handed over to the committee chairman. However, the release of the findings is now reliant on the university council, who are believed to own them.

 

The drawn-out nature of this process is contrasted by the swift resolution of a related defamation trial. Nattapon had claimed that Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, had defamed him and sought 1 million baht (US$28,265) in damages. The court ruled in favour of the professor on March 5, citing academic freedom of expression.

Chaiyaporn had accused Nattapon of including 31 instances of inconsistent and inaccurate references in his thesis, which discusses Thai politics under the leadership of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the prime minister from 1948 to 1957. This dispute led to the defamation suit and the university’s subsequent investigation.

In a disturbing twist, Wirangrong mentioned a circulating rumour that even if the research paper were found to contain falsified information, the university may not have the authority to rescind Jaijin’s doctoral degree. She expressed concern that this, along with the delay in the release of the probe’s findings, could potentially damage the university’s reputation and mislead the public about the role of the monarchy, thereby threatening national security, reported Bangkok Post.

 

In light of these issues, Wirangrong has called on the university to disclose the investigation results. She advised that if the university is unable to revoke Jaijin’s degree, they should at the very least annul his thesis, and if there are further delays in revealing the investigation’s findings, the university should provide a clear timeline for conclusion.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of ThaiPost

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-11

 

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5 hours ago, webfact said:

The contentious thesis, penned by Nattapon Jaijin, has been under scrutiny for three years, a fact that has sparked frustration within the group.

 

The group’s leader, Wirangrong Dabbaransi, has taken to Facebook to voice her displeasure and call for transparency from the university. She confirmed that the investigation has concluded, and its findings have been handed over to the committee chairman. However, the release of the findings is now reliant on the university council, who are believed to own them.

These issues are tricky and have to be thoroughly investigated and then buried.

An ongoing issue for Thai Uni's for many reasons.

 

I lectured bachelor, masters degrees and coached doctoral students for many years at several Thai unis.

 

- Bachelor degrees - no theses needed.

- Masters - thesis needed but no structured quality / grading methodology in place.

- Doctoral - thesis needed, grading not well structured.

 

Three years back I got an e.mail from a lady who claimed to be the 'registrar' for all thesis submissions for her uni (name of uni not mentioned).

 

She asked me to correct the several thesis documents attached to her e.mail so that they would pass with a high grade and on receiving a pass and high grade she would transfer 250Baht to me for each thesis paper. She mentioned that each student had paid a 3,000Baht 'fee' to register their thesis with the uni. She claimed this is required by law. I checked - there is no such law.

 

I read each thesis paper, none were anywhere near acceptable, contained no research and no insight whatever, let alone be suitable to put to a committee. I ran the 3 attached thesis papers through a plagiarism app. All three were stolen. none had 'passed'.

 

I shared the above with the 'registration' lady. She responded that I had no right to make such comments and tried to insist that I change / add more detail so that each paper would be acceptable and would get a high grading. (Reality is that 'acceptable - meaning pass, and high grade is up to the committee of each uni.)

 

I responded that if i did change / add then the work would not be original work from the actual student therefore I would not do it. She responded that I was too serious.

 

I also asked her if she really expected any person to do such an exercise for 250Baht. She responded that I was stingy and should do it free.

 

I responded by asking how many Baht she personally pocketed when each student paid the 3,000Baht fee and I requested a copy of the receipt with the uni logo for each 3,000Baht fee paid by each student.

 

She never replied.