Feng Chia Rules Hsu May Keep Master's Degree 逢甲:許淑華碩論不當引述 未達撤銷學位程度

Feng Chia University concluded its investigation that KMT Nantou County magisterial candidate Hsu Shu-hua's thesis had found improper citations but not to the degree that her diploma would need to be revoked.

In August, Feng Chia University received a report claiming that KMT Nantou County magisterial candidate Hsu Shu-hua had plagiarized the thesis for her EMBA degree. The university's academic ethics review committee concluded its investigation on Oct. 11. It determined that there were improper citations in the thesis that violated academic ethics, but not to the degree that her diploma would need to be revoked.

Tang Kuo-hao, Vice President, Feng Chia University: “We determined that this thesis by Hsu Shu-hua did violate academic ethics, but what she did was not sufficient enough to revoke her degree.”

The university compared Hsu's thesis with a research report written by a Nantou City Office executive officer, and discovered there were differences in various areas including the research motive. However, it found improper citations. The school has asked Hsu to amend her thesis before the end of the current semester and return it. Hsu thanked the school for clearing her name, and expressed her hope that personal attacks would stop. She said she would sue if there are any more smear attempts.

Hsu Shu-hua, KMT Nantou County Magisterial Candidate: “If anyone, whether it's a pundit or a candidate or a candidate's team, tells any more lies about my thesis, I will sue to protect my name and my school's reputation.”

Frida Tsai, DPP Nantou County Magisterial Candidate: “Under NTU's standards, Hsu Shu-hua plagiarized her thesis. That's why we're perplexed by Feng Chia University. Feng Chia said there were flaws and improprieties, and this matter should be reviewed if it needs to be reviewed and improved if it needs to be improved. What does this have to do with innocence?”

DPP Nantou County magisterial candidate Frida Tsai was not happy with the university's conclusion, saying its finding that there were improper citations means that the thesis is problematic. This issue could come up again as the year-end elections draw closer.

逢甲大學今年8月接獲檢舉，從經營管理學院畢業的許淑華碩士論文涉及抄襲，昨日校方違反學術倫理審定委員會完成審查，認定許淑華論文有不當引述，但未達違反學術倫理情節重大撤銷學位的程度。

逢甲大學副校長唐國豪表示：「結果的話就是我們認定，許淑華的這個論文它的確是有違反學術倫理，但是她的程度沒有到重大足以撤銷學位。」

逢甲大學認為，比對許淑華論文與南投市公所專員謝百傑的研究報告，發現研究動機等論文核心都有差異，但有引用瑕疵，要求許淑華必須在本學期完成修正送學校備查。許淑華則感謝校方還給她清白與公道，希望外界的攻擊到此為止，若再有抹黑一定提告。

國民黨南投縣長參選人許淑華表示：「有任何不論是名嘴或者是候選人，包括側翼，對我的論文再提出高見，為了維護我個人跟我學校的聲譽，我一定會提告。」

民進黨南投縣長參選人蔡培慧表示：「依台大的標準，許淑華的論文就是抄襲，所以我們對逢甲大學感到百思不得其解，逢甲也提醒有瑕疵、有不當，這件事情該檢討就檢討該改善就改善，這跟清白有什麼關係呢？」

選戰對手蔡培慧則表示，逢甲大學認定不當引述，就代表對論文仍存有疑慮。隨著九合一大選逼近，這起論文風波是否就此落幕，還有待觀察。