ITB confirms allegations of research fraud involving master's alumnus are individual in nature

Bandung (ANTARA) - Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) has emphasised that the alleged manipulation (fraud) in research at an international conference involving its former master’s student, Prihatini, is a legal matter as an individual and unrelated to the institution’s academic activities. Prihatini is a 2020 graduate of ITB’s Master’s programme in Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), completing her studies in 2022. FMIPA Dean Aep Patah clarified on Thursday that the material she presented at the International Symposium on Pneumonia and Pulmonary Diseases (IS PP D) in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 17-21 May, is unrelated to her thesis or any academic activities at ITB. Her thesis was titled ’ Analytical Study of Water Waves Caused by Landslide on Sloping Coasts’. ‘ITB views the actions of Ms Prihatini as a legal matter of an individual. Therefore, if there are legal proceedings, ITB respects the process,’ said Aep. The rectorate guarantees all educational ecosystems within the campus operate under academic integrity, and requests the public to objectively distinguish between alumni’s personal affairs and ITB’s institutional integrity. ITB reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen academic culture, especially in research with integrity and responsibility, with zero tolerance for plagiarism, data fabrication, result manipulation, or any other ethical violations in academic and research activities. Previously, the alleged research fraud went viral after a lecturer and researcher from Udayana University’s Marine Science Department, Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika and Wa Ode Dwi Daningrat, posted on social media Thread on Monday (25 May). Both attended the Copenhagen conference. Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika’s post stated the fraud was discovered during the ISPPD conference in Copenhagen. However, upon investigation, the research group allegedly attended the conference with falsified results, suspected to be a ploy to obtain grant funds. Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto stated the government is monitoring the alleged research fraud by Indonesian researchers at the Copenhagen pneumonia conference. ‘Based on initial information, the individuals involved are not registered as lecturers at Indonesian universities,’ said Brian. Nevertheless, he emphasised the issue remains a concern for the ministry as it could impact the broader perception of the national research ecosystem.