Launch of 'Authenticity Checker' System to Combat Academic Theft at Azad University

The Islamic Azad University has announced the imminent launch of the 'Authenticity Checker' system to combat academic theft and fraudulent theses in Iran. Ibrahim Vashaghani Farahani, the Vice President for Research and Technology at Azad University, stated on Tuesday, April 2, that this system will begin its operations in May of this year. Vashaghani Farahani added that this system is designed to counter 'cheating', 'theft', and 'plagiarism' in theses. According to him, all units of Azad University are required to obtain approval from this system for theses starting in May. As this official stated, without the approval of this system, no thesis will be allowed to be approved. Azad University is mentioned as one of the universities in Iran where some faculty members were accused of 'academic fraud' last year and were suspended from their positions. Vashaghani Farahani announced on January 7 that four professors were suspended in this regard and reported the expulsion of several students. Nature magazine reported in early November last year that 58 articles written by 282 researchers residing in Iran were retracted by one of the most reputable scientific publishers. Springer Nature, the publisher of one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals, Nature, issued a statement indicating that 'evidence of fraud and academic theft' was found in the articles of Iranian researchers. The buying and selling of theses and scientific articles in Iran has become a common trade, especially in recent years, and advertisements for their sale can be seen in public areas near universities, such as Enghelab Street in Tehran. Currently, a significant number of companies active in selling theses and scientific articles in Iran have established various websites and are openly operating in this field. So far, no accurate statistics have been published on the volume of thesis sales in Iran, and it is unclear what the financial turnover of this 'academic trade' is annually. However, individuals such as Mohammad Reza Makbar Dezfouli, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, have stated that 'thesis selling' in Iran is an 'organized movement' and 'designed with the support of foreigners and problematic elements.' Dezfouli had previously announced that a draft plan to combat theft and academic violations was ready for review and final approval at the next meeting of this council. He added that this plan, once approved by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, would serve as a basis for action for agencies, ministries, and universities. Dezfouli expressed hope that with the implementation of this resolution, the problem of violations and academic theft would be fundamentally resolved.