Bandung university accepts plagiarizing academic's resignation

The Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) in Bandung, West Java, has decided to accept the resignation of one of its professors, Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, who has admitted to committing acts of plagiarism.

The university had previously said it had no right to strip him of his title.

“This act of plagiarism [should] be a valuable lesson,” university rector Cicilia Lauw said Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

Cicilia said that although Banyu had acted independently, the university asked the public's forgiveness for the actions of its professor.

The case emerged after The Jakarta Post issued a disclaimer in its Feb. 4 edition, saying that Banyu’s article, titled “RI as a new middle power?” was very similar to Carl Ungerer’s article “The ‘Middle Power’ Concept in Australian Foreign Policy” published in the Australian Journal of Politics and History: Volume 53, Number 4, 2007.

Banyu tendered his letter of resignation to the rector on Feb. 8.