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Dagang Net Technologies Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of agreement with four universities in Indonesia to implement Dagang Net eScroll, a blockchain-powered web application for employers, graduates, universities and training providers to authenticate academic and training certificates. This application provides a unique signature and time-stamped certificate that can eliminate forgery, unlike traditional paper-based documents.

In an interview with a local daily newspaper, Malaysia’s Education Minister said that efforts are underway to do a large-scale change in the world of academia. A review of the Statuary Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 605 to exclude academics from several rules governing civil servants will be carried out. This involves issues of academic freedom, integrity, plagiarism, and others.

A foreign graduate’s research papers were published under the name of his supervisor at the University of Putrajaya. The Ministry of Education has opened an investigation on this matter, encouraging other students who have been “robbed” to lodge a complaint with the ministry.

Several politicians are accused of ‘misleading voters’ during elections last year and for having fake or questionable academic qualifications. Deputy Foreign Minister’s academic credentials were the first to be called into question. After a police report, he admitted the unaccredited Cambridge International University in the United States granted his degree, which some have claimed was a diploma mill.

The Higher Education Ministry of Oman has banned four Malaysian universities due to alleged academic and administrative abuses by the varsities. In total, there are 378 Omani students enrolled in the four universities. The Times of Oman, in its report, stated that the Committee for the Recognition of Non-Omani Higher Education Institutions and the Equivalence of Educational Qualifications in the Oman Higher Education Ministry had issued a decision to stop dealing with these universities. It said Omani students were not allowed to attend the educational institutions following the decision. Representatives from one of the universities claim that the Ministry’s action is ‘unwarranted’.

With some using unscrupulous ways just to get titles and academic qualifications, the Government is stepping up its efforts to prevent another avenue from being misused – honorary doctorates. The usage of the honorary “Dr” title is limited to within the awarding university, recipients aren’t allowed to put the “Dr” title in front of their names in public. As a reminder to be vigilant about any misrepresentation and use of fraudulent awards, the Higher Education Ministry sent out guidelines in March on the issuance of honorary doctorates.

The Higher Education Ministry will set up a National Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Registry to curb the production and usage of fraudulent academic titles by individuals and organisations. The ministry said the move will ensure credible use of academic titles, enable the public to verify information and deter bogus issuance of academic certificates. The most common fraudulently used and produced academic title in Malaysia is ‘Dr.’ as in a PhD graduate.

The Higher Education Ministry and Universiti Malaya (UM) will investigate allegations of research fraud involving a group of UM faculty of medicine researchers. The allegations of fraud exploded over social media in the past week, and was subsequently picked up by the mainstream scientific press.The Higher Education Minister has said that he would personally look into the matter. The university has formed an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegation.