Tang Jun Fake PhD Scandal Escalates, May Involve Other Leaders

Tang Jun Fake PhD Scandal Escalates, May Involve Other Leaders
Jul 16, 2010 By eChinacities.com


Tang Jun is pictured here, in a video still posted by Fang Zhouzi, talking about his “invention” – the scoring-keeping karaoke machine


Tang Jun presents the media with diploma from Pacific Western University certifying his PhD in electrical engineering. Fang Zhouzi pointed out that Pacific Western had been investigated and disbanded for selling sham credentials.
 

Tang Jun, former president of Microsoft China Co., Ltd. and current CEO of Xinhuadu Industrial Group Co., Ltd. has been a hot topic on Chinese internet forums lately, after science writer Fang Zhouzi alleged that Tang’s doctorate credentials are fake. In an interview with China National Radio, Tang publicly responded to the allegations for the first time, but Fang and others have refuted his claims. Chinese netizens have sprung into action, and an alumni list for America’s Pacific Western University now circulating in forums shows Tang may not be the only Chinese company leader to have gotten their degree from the institution. Pacific Western University has been investigated for fraud related to the sale of fake credentials.

Are Tang Jun's PhD credentials credible?
"First, he (Fang Zhouzi) set up this hypothesis about me, and then proceeded to prove that I wasn't what I said I was," Tang told reporters. "So really, he's setting up for himself to be proved and to disprove me, and I can't prove him wrong in that respect. I hope that people will understand this."

The controversy over Tang Jun's credentials was spurred by a post on science writer Fang Zhouzi’s microblog that accused Tang of having a fake doctorate in computer science from the California Institute of Technology. On July 1st, Fang wrote on his blog that, “a search of the California Institute of Technology alumni list of doctorates that majored in computer science does not turn up Tang Jun, nor anyone surnamed Tang. Papers authored by Tang cannot be found in a database search for doctoral dissertations with American universities.”

Tang eventually responded to Fang's challenges in an interview on a China National Radio program: “I've never said that I had gotten my doctorate from the California Institute of Technology, but I have done research studies at the institute. I have gotten my PhD, although not from the said school.”

So where did Tang receive his doctorate? He replied that he had been enrolled in a doctorate program at a university in Japan for five years, but decided at the last minute to go the US to pursue his studies. “I continued my studies and research at the Pacific Western University, and eventually got my PhD there. I have the diploma to prove it,” Tang explained.

Is Pacific Western University a legitimate college?
Fang continues to call into question Tang’s credentials: “If Tang Jun says that Pacific Western University is a legitimate college, then I will ask him: What is the name of the professor who supervised him? What was his topic of research? What is the title of his dissertation? Where is his dissertation published?”

Fang posted an update on July 6th: “Tang Jun has said that he received his doctorate from Pacific Western University, but this is a well-publicized, illegitimate college that has been investigated for selling sham degrees. The school was based in Hawaii, but was never accredited by the US Department of Education. Pacific Western, along with several other sham colleges, was at the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by State of Hawaii for fraud, and was eventually disbanded.” Fang also pointed out that according to data revealed by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2004, credentials could be bought with the Pacific Western University for the following prices: Bachelor's degree $2,295; Master's degree $2,395; doctorate degree $2,595 – all sales final. “Tang Jun's doctorate was bought from an unaccredited and illegitimate college, and is thus not recognized by society or institutions. It is a sham credential; he cannot state that he has a PhD with that kind of credential.”

Tang responded to the accusations in an interview with CCTV, saying that there are two colleges with the name Pacific Western – the one in Hawaii was illegitimate, but the one he attended and eventually got his PhD from in California was the real deal, and has always been accredited and recognized. Fang responded to this claim as well, saying that the two schools are one and the same – the California branch was an affiliate of the same university GAO cracked down on for sale of sham credentials.

Are Tang's claims on inventions legitimate?
"These are my inventions. I have come up with the original data, the software, and the hardware for the inventions, why can't I say that these belong to me?” – Tang Jun responding to questions about his intellectual property claims on photo sticker (purikura) booths and score-keeping karaoke machines.

Fang again rebutted these claims: “First off, all of the English-language introductions about photo sticker booths state that the machines were invented by a 30-year old Japanese woman by the name of Sasaki Miho. Secondly, the score-keeping karaoke machines were patented in 1998 by Pawate, and then by Japanese inventors named Tanaka and Wakamoto. Tang has not been named or registered with any of the patents related to his so-called inventions.”

Tang responded by saying that “the original idea for the photo sticker booth” had been his, and that he had sold his ideas to a Japanese company. “I've never said that I had patented the invention with the photo sticker booth, but the original idea came from me. That's what I've stated when referring to the photo sticker booths in my speeches and presentations.” As for the score-keeping karaoke machines, Tang said the following: “The technology and the idea for the machines was mine, and I had thought up the invention by myself when I was still at school. I manufactured a prototype and sent it to a company. That company eventually negotiated a deal with a South Korean company; they then proceeded to patent the invention. But still, I thought up the original idea and technology for the score-keeping machine, so of course I have a right to my own invention.”

Sham credential scandal involving Tang Jun escalates
The statement during the China National Radio interview that Tang had pursued his doctorate at a Japanese university for five years but eventually left to continue his studies in the US s also drawn further scrutiny. A 2004 NASDAQ prospectus for Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited, where Tang served as president and director of the company 2004-2008, states, “Mr. Tang holds a doctorate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pacific Western, and a doctorate degree in electronics from Nagoya University, Japan”.

Fang did not miss the chance to attack, posting yet another entry on his microblog stating that, “the prospectus obviously provided stock buyers with false information.”

Tang isn’t the only Pacific Western alumni
When Fang disclosed information about Tang's false credentials, someone surnamed Yu, a chairman for a investing company based in Beijing, posted a rebuke on his microblog saying that it is “snide and cheap” to try and uncover someone's credentials as a sham and undermine their respective careers. Later, Chinese netizens exposed Yu to be another alumnus of the discredited Pacific Western University.

Chinese netizens recently claimed that they've uncovered a list of business management doctorates from Pacific Western, and that familiar names associated with prominent companies and research institutes in China are on the list. It seems as if the fire with the sham credential scandal will burn on for a little bit longer still.
 

Following is a poll posted on Ifeng.com that investigated Chinese netizens’ reactions to the sham credential scandal involving Tang. A total of 391,203 people participated in the survey below.

1) Do you believe Fang Zhouzi's accusations and the proof he's cited about the credential scandal involving Tang?
Option
Percentage/Votes
1. I do 77.7% / 303813
2. I don't 7.3% / 28626
3. Undecided 15% / 58794
2) Does forging credentials undercut that person's credibility in your eyes?
Option
Percentage/Votes
1. Of course it does, forging credentials cannot be tolerated 87.9% / 343749
2. Forging credential is not related to someone's credibility 6.7% / 26079
3. Undecided 5.5% / 21378
 
3) Do you think it’s okay if someone as gifted a business leader as Tang Jun turns out from time to time to be less than 100% honest
 
Option
Percentage/Votes
1. Yes, their dishonesty from time to time is acceptable 9.6% / 37746
2. No, business leaders need to be credible, even more so than regular citizens 86.7% / 339222
3. Undecided 3.6% / 14244
 
4) What are your thoughts about the lack of credibility on the part of celebrities and social elites?
Option
Percentage/Votes
1. We should be more accepting, one bad apple shouldn’t spoil the whole barrel 14.2% / 55368
2. We shouldn't be so forgiving, celebrities need to set a prime example for society 81.9% / 320370
3. Don't care 4% / 15465


Source: ifeng.com

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Keywords: Tang jun scandal tang fake phd tang jun phd scandal china fake phd scandal china credentials scandal

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