HSG Reprimands Adjunct Professor

The investigation of the adjunct professor at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) accused in late 2022 has now been formally completed. Following an extensive, multi-stage procedure, the University President has notified the former faculty member of the investigative findings and issued a severe reprimand. The individual concerned was found to have committed serious academic misconduct under Art. 11(1) of the Directive of Academic Integrity at the University of St.Gallen dated 24 February 2015. As the individual concerned has not appealed the decision, this has now become final and proceedings have been formally concluded. 

Multiple violations of academic integrity  

The investigation found that one of the 14 papers of the adjunct professor’s cumulative habilitation thesis violated the University’s Directive of Academic Integrity in multiple ways, largely due to a lack of due diligence, including breaches of the applicable citation rules. Based on the findings, the Habilitation Committee and the Assembly of the School deemed that it would be inappropriate to strip the professor of his academic title and to revoke his venia legendi. For this reason, the Assembly decided not to file a corresponding motion. It did, however, recommend that the adjunct professor be reprimanded. The President has now issued this reprimand. Due to the multiple instances of academic misconduct identified in one paper, the adjunct professor must request the publisher to retract this paper within 30 days of the President’s decision becoming final. 

Employment contract already terminated 

As announced in early 2024, the adjunct professor was relieved of his duties by mutual consent. The right to hold the title of adjunct professor will expire at the end of the 2027 autumn semester, due to the termination of his teaching appointment.