Corruption Brings Unwanted Attention to Finland - U. of Helsinki Hiring Scandal

The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a limited track researcher position. <!--break--> The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a limited track researcher position. According to SPACEPOL CEO Gunnar K. A. Njalsson, the released documents expose a process of candidate evaluation riddled with inconsistencies and lack of academic integrity. The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a limited track researcher position. According to SPACEPOL CEO Gunnar K. A. Njalsson, the released documents expose a process of candidate evaluation riddled with inconsistencies and lack of academic integrity. False and Embellished Expert Statements The focus of CEO Njalsson's particular concern is on so-called expert comments, requested by the Research Centre Board of the Swedish School of Social Science and submitted by nine University of Helsinki professors. The comments were to systematically evaluate the candidates for the researcher position using customary signs of merit, including the quality of research plans, number and quality of articles published, international reputation, multidisciplinary projects and so on. In an official complaint document, Njalsson points out serious shortcomings such as false or embellished statements and complete failure by four of the statements to mention a single research plan or any customary academic criteria used to evaluate candidates. &quot;I'd say that these deficiencies alone are cause for grave concern&quot;, commented Njalsson But according to the founder of SPACEPOL who graduated from both the Swedish School of Social Science and the University of Helsinki in less than two and one half years, the fact that the statements were central to the decision making process makes a clear case for complete review and possible overhaul of the school's recruitment and hiring practises. He is also calling for disciplinary action and possible prosecution of those professors who are proven to have willingly or wrecklessly authored statements which they ought to have known were false. &quot;I'm not saying that this is necessarily a phenomenon which is limited to the Swedish School of Social Sciences. But I am saying that wherever it occurs it is a serious breach against the most basic rules of Academe and must be dealt with accordingly&quot;, Njalsson added. Chancellor of Justice to Investigate for Irregularities The Chancellor will likely rule on the case by May 2008. SPACEPOL has previously filed bilateral trade and expert exchange reports with the Government of Canada with eye to possible Finnish discrimination of non-Finnish experts and enterprises. In June, Njalsson formally renounced his long-standing academic affiliation with the University of Helsinki, stating that he could see no sign of that university's willingness to adhere to global academic standards is cases such as this. Finnish Media Refused to Investigate - Have Ties to University being Investigated The case has been the object of recent media coverage and debate since it was lodged earlier this year. However, many larger Finnish newspapers such as Helsingin sanomat and the swedish-language dailies Hufvudstadsbladet and Vasabladet have steered clear of covering the incident despite international coverage and the involvement of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Chancellor or Justice in the investigation. The journalists working at these newpapers are all educated at the Swedish School of Social Science. Similar Cases Have Brought Unwanted Attention Similar cases have received limited attention in the Finnish media, one such case being that involving the US-Russian Kocharova family, all high-qualified astrophysicists who fled Finland earlier this year for Colorado in response to corrupt Finnish university hiring practises . The possible impact of these and other incidents on current negotiations relating to international academic mobility is as yet unclear

<p>The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for<br /> possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish<br /> School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision<br /> to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a<br /> limited track researcher position.</p> <!--break--><p> The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for<br /> possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish<br /> School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision<br /> to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a<br /> limited track researcher position. According to SPACEPOL CEO Gunnar K.<br /> A. Njalsson, the released documents expose a process of candidate<br /> evaluation riddled with inconsistencies and lack of academic integrity.<br /> The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for<br /> possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish<br /> School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision<br /> to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a<br /> limited track researcher position. According to SPACEPOL CEO Gunnar K.<br /> A. Njalsson, the released documents expose a process of candidate<br /> evaluation riddled with inconsistencies and lack of academic integrity.</p> <p>False and Embellished Expert Statements</p> <p>The focus of CEO Njalsson's particular concern is on so-called expert<br /> comments, requested by the Research Centre Board of the Swedish School<br /> of Social Science and submitted by nine University of Helsinki<br /> professors. The comments were to systematically evaluate the candidates<br /> for the researcher position using customary signs of merit, including<br /> the quality of research plans, number and quality of articles<br /> published, international reputation, multidisciplinary projects and so<br /> on. In an official complaint document, Njalsson points out serious<br /> shortcomings such as false or embellished statements and complete<br /> failure by four of the statements to mention a single research plan or<br /> any customary academic criteria used to evaluate candidates. "I'd say<br /> that these deficiencies alone are cause for grave concern", commented<br /> Njalsson</p> <p>But according to the founder of SPACEPOL who graduated from both the<br /> Swedish School of Social Science and the University of Helsinki in less<br /> than two and one half years, the fact that the statements were central<br /> to the decision making process makes a clear case for complete review<br /> and possible overhaul of the school's recruitment and hiring practises.<br /> He is also calling for disciplinary action and possible prosecution of<br /> those professors who are proven to have willingly or wrecklessly<br /> authored statements which they ought to have known were false. "I'm not<br /> saying that this is necessarily a phenomenon which is limited to the<br /> Swedish School of Social Sciences. But I am saying that wherever it<br /> occurs it is a serious breach against the most basic rules of Academe<br /> and must be dealt with accordingly", Njalsson added.</p> <p>Chancellor of Justice to Investigate for Irregularities</p> <p>The Chancellor will likely rule on the case by May 2008. SPACEPOL has<br /> previously filed bilateral trade and expert exchange reports with the<br /> Government of Canada with eye to possible Finnish discrimination of<br /> non-Finnish experts and enterprises. In June, Njalsson formally<br /> renounced his long-standing academic affiliation with the University of<br /> Helsinki, stating that he could see no sign of that university's willingness to adhere to global academic standards is cases such as this.</p> <p>Finnish Media Refused to Investigate - Have Ties to University being Investigated</p> <p>The case has been the object of recent media coverage and debate since<br /> it was lodged earlier this year. However, many larger Finnish newspapers such as Helsingin sanomat and the swedish-language dailies Hufvudstadsbladet and Vasabladet have steered clear of covering the incident despite international coverage and the involvement of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Chancellor or Justice in the investigation. The journalists working at these newpapers are all educated at the Swedish School of Social Science.</p> <p>Similar Cases Have Brought Unwanted Attention</p> <p>Similar cases have received limited attention in the Finnish media, one such case being that involving the US-Russian Kocharova family, all high-qualified astrophysicists who fled Finland earlier this year for Colorado in response to corrupt Finnish university hiring practises .</p> <p>The possible impact of these and other incidents on current negotiations relating to international academic mobility is as yet unclear</p>