Premier accepts education minister's resignation over academic scandal

Описание: An academic scandal has cost the education minister his job. Chiang Wei-ning resigned today after allegations emerged last week that the peer review process was subverted on papers that he co-authored. While Chiang maintains his innocence, he says he is stepping down so the ministry can put this controversy behind it. Chiang's resignation was quickly accepted by the Cabinet.Chiang Wei-lingFormer Education MinisterWhen I'm no longer minister, I will return to my normal position as a university professor. I will ask related agencies, whether part of the Ministry of Science and Technology or the Ministry of Education, to closely examine the situation surrounding these academic papers.On Friday, reports emerged that a former assistant professor of computer science had allegedly used false accounts to subvert the peer review process of a foreign journal. Around 60 papers were retracted, including five co-authored by Chiang.On Friday and Sunday, Chiang attempted to explained himself. Chiang first claimed not to know the academic at the center of the controversy, then said he had met him twice. Suspicion of lying led to calls for Chiang's head. Before leaving the ministry, Chiang insisted there were no problems with the papers that bore his name.Chiang Wei-lingFormer Education MinisterInnocence is vital to an academic career. I can tell each person here that if my name is included in a paper, I believe that I must take full responsibility for it. Deputy Education Minister Chen Der-hwa will become acting minister.