ISM University to investigate possible academic ethics breach by prime minister

ISM University of Management and Economics will investigate a possible academic ethics breach involving Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, LRT reported on Friday.

The university’s Ethics Committee has agreed to examine a complaint forwarded by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures concerning possible violations related to Sinkevičius’ doctoral dissertation.

“The public has the right to expect clear answers. However, they can only be provided once the investigation carried out under the established procedure has been completed,” ISM Rector Dalius Misiūnas said in a statement.

He said that although the author is primarily responsible for academic integrity in academic work, the university must ensure that all questions concerning academic ethics are assessed impartially and in accordance with established procedures.

The university said the committee’s work would be based on the principles of independence, impartiality and confidentiality, as well as international academic ethics standards. It may bring in external experts if necessary to ensure a comprehensive and objective assessment of the complaint.

Misiūnas said ISM applies the same academic ethics standards, rights and obligations to all its students and graduates, regardless of their position or status.

A decision will be made after all information gathered during the investigation has been assessed and all interested parties have been given the opportunity to present their positions. Under the applicable procedure, the decision must be made within 30 calendar days, excluding the summer holiday period. ISM plans to reach a decision by the end of September.

BNS reported that social media discussions have recently focused on possible plagiarism in Sinkevičius’ dissertation. The prime minister has repeatedly said that he prepared the work ethically and rejected the plagiarism allegations.

President Gitanas Nausėda has also commented on the issue, urging the public to allow the new prime minister to work.

Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas said he currently had no doubts about the prime minister’s academic work, but that the investigation would provide a final answer.

“I trust ISM as a higher education institution whose quality is ensured. There have been no previous complaints about that institution,” Olekas told reporters in parliament on Friday.

Sinkevičius earned a bachelor’s degree in management and business administration from Vilnius University’s Faculty of Economics in 2007. He completed bachelor’s studies in law at Mykolas Romeris University in 2008, received a master’s degree in marketing and management from ISM in 2009, and defended his doctoral dissertation at the same university in 2015.