SAPPORO (Kyodo) Nine professors and associate professors at Hokkaido University received cash and gift certificates from seven people who acquired doctorates after their dissertations were examined by the nine between fiscal 2007 and 2008, the university said Wednesday.
According to the state-run university's internal survey, the nine who received the gifts belong to the graduate schools of agriculture, engineering and science, and one of them received up to ¥150,000 in cash from two Ph.D. recipients.
"We are ashamed that incidents degrading the dignity of academic dissertations have happened. We will work on measures to prevent a recurrence," said Masaaki Hemmi, vice president of the university. Hemmi said it will prohibit faculty from accepting gifts and other benefits from degree-seeking candidates.