University fires dean after plagiarism row

Mar 1 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A SHAMED academic has been fired following two cases of plagiarism dating back more than 20 years.

Professor Tony Antoniou stepped down as dean of Durham University’s business school last September following allegations that he plagiarised work for a research article and for part of his doctoral degree at York university.

He has also had his doctorate removed by York following an earlier hearing.

Durham confirmed they have now sacked him for “misconduct.”

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Durham University said: “A Disciplinary Tribunal met on February 8 to consider two charges of misconduct against Tony Antoniou.

“Those charges comprised an allegation of plagiarism relating to a research article, which had been investigated through Durham’s internal procedures, and issues relating to the withdrawal, following its own investigation of plagiarism, by the University of York of a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) qualification awarded to Antoniou in 1987.

“The Tribunal upheld the charges, concluded that the misconduct concerned amounted to “good cause” for dismissal under Statute 39 and recommended dismissal.

“The Vice-Chancellor has acted in accordance with this recommendation and Tony Antoniou is no longer employed by the University.”

Professor Chris Higgins, Durham University vice-chancellor, said last night: “Durham University takes the issue of plagiarism extremely seriously.

“We are committed to ensuring that allegations are fully investigated using the robust procedures that we have in place, and we are also committed to taking the appropriate action following the outcome of an investigation.”

Prof Antoniou joined Durham in 1998 as professor of finance and was chairman of the department of economics and finance.

He became dean of the business school in January 2002 when the department of economics and the business school were merged. He stepped down as dean of Durham Business School six months ago.

He specialised in risk management, market anomalies and emerging markets and has supervised more than 450 Durham PhD students.

A panel of three senior professors independent of the Business School carried out the Durham investigation, which related to a paper the professor wrote in 1988 for the Journal of Business and Society, when he was working at Brunel University. Much of it was lifted directly from a paper which was written in 1983 by an American student and two Israeli academics.

His York University DPhil thesis, Futures Markets: Theory and Tests , took material from at least three other sources.

The introduction to his thesis begins identically to that of a paper by an American academic.

Meanwhile, Durham University embarked on an international search for a new business school dean at the end of last year and interviews are taking place this month. An appointment to the post is expected in the summer.

Prof Antoniou could not be contacted for comment last night.