site.btaParliament Passes Provisions against Academic Plagiarism for the First Time

Sofia, March 21 (BTA) - Parliament Wednesday passed conclusively revisions to the Development of Academic Staff in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, according to which plagiarism in academic work is punishable by withdrawal of academic degree. This is the first text against academic plagiarism in Bulgarian legislation.

The amendments state that persons for whom plagiarism or untrue research data in their works is established and who have acquired or have participated in a procedure to receive an academic degree, or who have taken or participated in a competition for an academic position on the basis of such, will be stripped of their academic degree and be relieved of their duties. Such authority is vested in the rector of the higher educational establishment, respectively the head of the research organisation.

Within six months after the revisions become effective, universities and research organisations have to align their rules of organization and procedure with the law, as well as to adopt the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers and an Ethical Code.

The motion of the Left for additional monthly payment of no less than 300 leva for a doctoral degree and no less than 600 leva for doctors of sciences was not accepted. Now the amount is determined by the Council of Ministers but without a concrete threshold.