Another Hong Kong campus controversy: Lingnan University official faces plagiarism investigation
Inquiry into associate vice-president's doctoral dissertation is city's latest campus controversy
Lingnan University announced yesterday it has formed a panel to investigate an allegation that its associate vice-president Herdip Singh plagiarised his doctoral dissertation, while a news report said a university council member allegedly helped Singh fast-track and get his doctorate degree.
Council member Alex Lee Ye-lick refused to comment on an allegation that he had helped Singh obtain his doctorate degree from Tarlac State University in the Philippines in just a year through his company Lifelong College, but said the college would internally investigate the matter.
After a report surfaced over his alleged involvement, Lee said yesterday: "An investigation of the dissertation plagiarism allegation will be handed over to [Lingnan], but we will also have an internal investigation."
But on the issue of his alleged involvement in helping Singh obtain his doctorate, Lee said: "I'm currently seeking legal advice, and so cannot comment on this."
The panel comprised a chairman - Jesus Seade, chair professor of the university's department of economics - and two other senior-ranking professors.