Zhejiang University pledges strict evaluation of online works

Zhejiang University says academic standards won't be undermined by the recognition of online pieces of cultural excellence.

A campus of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province [File Photo: IC]

Fears were raised after the university, one of China's top five, revealed plans to give online articles the same status as traditional papers published in domestic academic journals.

Defending the plan, the college said that online works would be divided into three categories based on the platforms they are posted on, the influence they've generated, and especially the number of reposts and hits.

Works published by the three major Party newspapers, namely People's Daily, Guangming Daily and Qiushi Journal, with more than 20 reposts by mainstream media will be ranked as first-class academic works, the new regulation reads.

The identification of works would be related to the evaluation, employment rewards and promotion for teachers and students.

The new rules have sparked a heated debate.

Some have praised the move saying it's inclusive, innovative and modern.

Others have said academic articles and online media works are totally different in principle, and question whether amassing online hits would undermine a research paper's academic credentials.

Zhejiang University told journalists with the Beijing News that a committee made up of experts will carry out authoritative rating and expert reviews of online works and would not undermine relevant academic standards.

The university also noted that anyone found to commit credential cheating by taking advantage of this new plan will have their article deleted from the platform, although they didn't specify how any potential monitoring procedure could work.