All bachelor’s, master’s theses to be checked with anti‑plagiarism software in Moldova, after revelations about sale of academic papers

All bachelor’s and master’s theses of Moldova will be checked, starting this year, using a national anti-plagiarism software, after the authorities have announced firm measures following a journalistic investigation into the commercialization of academic papers.

According to the Education and Research Ministry (MEC), the institution initiated an internal review following the investigation published by a news portal and will notify law-enforcement bodies to investigate the cases reported. At the same time, the ministry has requested the organization of public hearings in parliament, with the participation of relevant institutions, including the Justice Ministry.

Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun said that the introduction of the anti-plagiarism system was an essential measure to combat academic fraud.

“Starting this year, all bachelor’s and master’s theses will be checked using specialized software, which has already been purchased,” the official said.

He described the phenomenon as a serious one.

“Academic fraud is a cancer that erodes the trust and prestige of higher education in Moldova,” Dan Perciun noted.

The minister also stressed that individuals involved in such practices must be held accountable and that additional legislative amendments may be necessary.

At the same time, the head of the parliamentary commission for culture, education, research, youth, sport and mass media, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, today said that the legislature would hold hearings on this topic on May 5, with the participation of the ministries of Education, Justice, Internal Affairs, National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC), National Anticorruption Centre (CNA), the Prosecutor’s Office and universities.

According to the MEC, the new provisions of the Education Code explicitly prohibit the purchase or sale of academic papers, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses. Violating these rules may lead to legal sanctions and the annulment of diplomas or titles got fraudulently, regardless of when they were awarded.

The authorities inform that they will continue to strengthen the regulatory framework, in order to penalize academic fraud more severely and the official stance remains one of “zero tolerance” towards plagiarism. At the same time, universities are encouraged to adopt firm measures, within the limits of university autonomy.