Actor puts spotlight on Peking University

ZHAI TIANLIN, an actor, has become the target of plagiarism allegations because he, having obtained a PhD at the Beijing Film Academy and been freshly enrolled by Peking University for postdoctoral research, was found to not know about the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), a Chinese database of academic resources. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

To anyone who has ever written an academic essay in the Chinese language, Zhai not knowing about CNKI is as absurd as a self-claimed chemist not knowing the periodic table of elements. CNKI is an online platform that allows students and scholars to search for academic articles and papers published in China, and read the materials they need for their dissertations at their college libraries' expense. Unless a student claims an exception, their dissertation will be included as reference for other researchers.

The allegations against Zhai have naturally stirred up a hornet's nest of opinions online. By Tuesday morning, at least nine hashtags about the incident had appeared on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter. Added together, these hashtags have been read 3.9 billion times in all.

It should be noted that the incident is not entertainment gossip, but a serious matter about academic plagiarism. If any research institution allows a person to obtain a degree by plagiarizing the work of others, those with real potential for doing genuine academic research will lose the opportunity, which in turn hurts the academic environment as a whole.

Instead of waiting for the conclusions of the investigation by the Beijing Film Academy, Peking University needs to take the initiative to launch its own inquiry. On its official website, the university clearly states the procedures for enrolling a postdoctoral researcher, which include at least four review stages after an applicant submits materials.

When enrolling Zhai as a postdoctoral researcher, they should check many more materials besides his doctor's degree. If Zhai is found to have academic problems, Peking University is partly responsible, too.

As it is widely considered to be the top university in China, Peking University has very precious research opportunities, which makes it a focus for the public's attention in this incident. It is time both BFA and Peking University examined if they bear any blame, instead of just trying to pass the buck to each other.