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Maeijer is State Secretary for Long-term and Social Care. According to BNR, she copied hundreds of parts from existing texts by others when writing her master’s thesis. The news channel had the thesis checked by plagiarism software that is also used by universities. It showed that more than half of the text came from other sources. Maeijer mentions most of those sources in her list, but 32 percent of the text is missing quotation marks. According to BNR, this gives ‘the impression that she wrote the copied passages herself’.
No statute of limitations
The Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW) does not include a limitation period for fraud. The examination board says that it has a legal duty to enforce the fraud rules. “The committee will treat this case as any other case and will make no distinction between students and former students, or between prominent and non-prominent people.” If a specific suspicion of plagiarism is established during the investigation, those involved will be heard before a decision is made. A university spokesperson says there is no clarity yet about how long the investigation will take. If plagiarism is found, Maeijer could lose her diploma, she says.
At the request of BNR, three experts have already reviewed the thesis. Two of them found the evidence of academic fraud very convincing. “The thesis is largely the result of clever cutting and pasting from various sources found on the internet,” says emeritus professor of information law Bernt Hugenholtz. “If I had been a supervisor, I would never have approved the thesis in this form.” Only Gijs van Oenen, chairman of the Rotterdam philosophy examination committee, saw many copied texts, but did not think this was sufficient for the plagiarism label.
‘Best intentions’
Maeijer completed the master’s degree in International & European Public Law in 2009. She does not want to provide substantive answers to questions about her thesis in BNR’s research. “I worked hard to complete my studies,” she says. ‘I wrote my thesis in good faith and with the best intentions,’ says Maeijer. The thesis was about the fight against terrorism and the protection of fundamental rights in the European Union. She got a 6.5 for it.
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**What specific consequences, beyond potential resignation, could Helder face if the university investigation confirms plagiarism in her master’s thesis?**
## Dutch Minister Under Fire for Plagiarism in Master’s Thesis
**The Hague**: A major scandal has erupted in the Dutch political sphere after allegations of plagiarism surfaced against State Secretary for Long-term and Social Care, Conny Helder. A report by Dutch news channel BNR revealed that Helder’s master’s thesis contains hundreds of passages directly copied from pre-existing texts without proper attribution.
According to BNR, plagiarism detection software, commonly used in academic institutions, was employed to analyze Helder’s thesis. The results indicated that over half of the text originated from other sources. While Helder acknowledges many of these sources in her bibliography, a significant portion – 32 percent – appears without quotation marks, giving the impression that the copied passages are her own original work.
This revelation has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Critics have denounced Helder’s actions as a serious breach of academic integrity, highlighting the importance of proper citation and originality in academic pursuits.
Adding to the controversy is the fact that Helder, who obtained her master’s degree years ago, faces no legal repercussions due to the lack of a statute of limitations for academic fraud under the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW).
The examination board of her university has confirmed its obligation to investigate any suspected fraud, regardless of the individual’s current status or prominence. A statement from the board emphasized their commitment to treating this case like any other, reflecting a staunch determination to uphold academic standards and address violations fairly.
The university is now set to launch a formal investigation into the allegations against Helder. The outcome of this investigation could have significant consequences for her political career, potentially leading to calls for resignation if her actions are deemed to be a serious breach of trust.
This scandal has ignited a national debate on academic integrity and the ethical responsibilities of public figures. The investigation into Helder’s thesis will likely serve as a critical test case for universities’ ability to address historical cases of academic misconduct and preserve the integrity of academic institutions.
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