ISM expands investigation into Sinkevičius dissertation

ISM University of Management and Economics has extended its investigation into possible ethical violations related to Mindaugas Sinkevičius’s doctoral dissertation until October 30 after receiving new complaints, LRT and BNS reported.

The university’s Ethics Commission said it had expanded the scope of the investigation and was collecting additional information to assess the situation objectively and comprehensively.

The commission accepted its first complaint for examination in late August. The complaint was submitted by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures.

ISM said it had brought in international experts with extensive experience in academic ethics, academic integrity, research ethics and assessments of responsibility.

The experts’ identities will remain undisclosed during the investigation to protect their independence and ensure the impartiality of the process. Their task is to assess whether the commission’s procedures and methodology are appropriate, whether the evidence collected is sufficient and whether its conclusions are justified.

The commission said its work continued to follow the principles of independence, impartiality and confidentiality, adding that it would make its decision independently after thoroughly reviewing all the information collected.

ISM stressed that the same academic ethics standards, rights and responsibilities apply to all members of its community, students and graduates regardless of their position or status in society.

BNS reported that social media discussions about possible plagiarism in Sinkevičius’s dissertation intensified in July. Sinkevičius has repeatedly said that he prepared the dissertation ethically and rejects the plagiarism allegations.

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