‘Scandal’ at Kuwait University raises academic controversy

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 28: A number of university professors have expressed their dissatisfaction with a circular they received from the university administration regarding an offer by an Indian research institution to help them write academic papers, reports Al-Qabas daily. The professors told the daily that this is considered an academic scandal, as it is as if questioning the doctors’ capabilities and is very similar to encouraging fictitious research.

A circular for the university administration turned into a controversial material in the academic community recently, as Kuwait University professors from the research sector received an e-mail containing dates for submitting research proposals to the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, while the message also contained another message, for an Indian consulting group offering its services to help write papers. The research that will be presented to the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences indicating in its letter that it has provided advisory services to many institutions, enclosing contact details with the group to benefit from its services. The details of the e-mail revealed that the letter was marked with a seal received from the office of the university president, and then it was transferred to the sector of the university vice-president for research, and then circulated to the professors.

The university corrected the error, and disavowed the message of the Indian group, where the professors of Kuwait University received a letter stating: “The research sector at Kuwait University and the KFAS did not recommend any office to assist in the preparation of proposals, and that the name of the office mentioned in the circular has inserted its name in the incoming message.” “The research sector apologized and said the letter that was sent to the professors by mistake.”

University sources confirmed that the circular is under investigation at the university to find out its details. Interacting with the event, the former head of the Faculty Members Association, Dr. Shamlan Al-Qenaei, described the circular on his Twitter account as “an academic scandal that expresses the disastrous situation of the administration,” indicating that this suspicious source in India offers research project writing services and has been attached to the Kuwait foundation for scientific advancement. Al-Qenaei demanded an apology out of respect for this ancient academic edifice, saying: “The university administration must immediately withdraw this circular and apologize for it to all Kuwait University employees” and hold everyone responsible for this circular accountable.

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