Wageningen University granted definitive permission to revoke doctoral degree

The AB revoked a doctoral degree in 2019. This far-reaching measure was necessary because a former PhD candidate had committed extensive fraud with scientific research results, seriously violating scientific integrity. The individual in question appealed against the decision, but the court dismissed the appeal in 2023.

The former PhD candidate then filed an appeal with the Council of State, which also confirmed the decision of the AB. The AB has now been granted definitive permission to revoke the doctoral degree in question.

Scientific fraud

Former Rector Magnificus and AB chair Arthur Mol explains why the degree was revoked. ‘When we bestow a doctoral degree, we must be certain that scientific integrity is guaranteed. That was not the case in this dissertation. Data appears to have been fabricated and falsified, and citations were distorted. Hence, the degree was revoked following a diligent investigation.’

Critical ruling

The Council of State’s ruling is not just relevant to Wageningen University. One of the key issues under debate was whether the Academic Board is qualified to revoke a degree once it has been bestowed if serious violations of scientific integrity are revealed. The Council of State has now irrefutably ruled that this is the case.

Process to repeal doctoral degree

In its advice in 2018, the Scientific Integrity Committee (SIC) of Wageningen University & Research declared a complaint on manipulation of research data in the dissertation justified and determined that this constituted a serious violation of scientific integrity.

The Netherlands Board on Research Integrity (Dutch acronym LOWI) confirmed these findings in 2019. Shortly thereafter, the AB decided to retract the doctoral degree and, later, ruled the appeal the individual involved submitted unfounded.

The former PhD candidate then decided to take the case to court. The full court confirmed in April of 2023 that revoking the degree was justified in view of the seriousness of the violation of scientific integrity and the diligence with which the complaints were addressed.

Ramifications

Wageningen University has retracted the dissertation. The editors of scientific journals will be asked to retract the relevant articles. The university will repay the promotion bonus it received from the ministry for the PhD candidate. For privacy reasons, Wageningen University will not reveal the identity of any of the parties involved.