HASMUKH LAL fleeced USP of $20,000 to obtain a DOCTORATE from distanced learning "Degree Mill" Atlantic International University in Hawaii after plagiarising another USP Junior Staff member's research (Incidentally, she is related to him). He is the brother of 'DR' Brij Lal, former FFP MP who also got his doctorate from another online university and had become FFP spokesman on Fijian Education, Culture, Art, and Heritage
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USP to Hasmukh Lal: “On 07 June 2019, you were conferred the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the Atlantic International University. You subsequently submitted the DBA degree to USP for purposes of updating BANNER with the said doctorate. On 14 May 2020, USP obtained a copy of your thesis entitled “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific” that you submitted to the Atlantic International University for the award of the DBA. The thesis paper that you submitted for the award of the DBA to the Atlantic International University is the same as that submitted by [name withheld] to you on 22 May 2019 entitled ‘Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.’ If it is established that you used a USP Document to represent a work of your own to obtain a DBA, it would constitute a breach of paragraph 4.1 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Academic Staff. Such a breach would be classified as “gross misconduct” on your part under the USP Discipline of Academic, Professional, Administrative, Library and Technical, Intermediate and Junior and Hourly Paid Staff Ordinance.”
According to USP insiders, when Hasmukh Lal first appeared on the Laucala Bay campus a few years ago, he was already 'Doctor' and then suddenly, he was 'Mr', and in 2019 'Doctor' - Ping Pong Doctor or as Indo-Fijians might refer to him, 'Ponga PhD Doctor'. Usually, Ponga is reserved for Pandits (Hindu Priests) - A Pandit who recites mantras or holy scriptures without knowing what they mean or what is their essence, is called a Ponga Pandit
On 24 June 2020, we wrote to Atlantic International University and so far we have not heard from them. We were informed by the Admissions Counsellor & Team Lead, Admissions Department, that the matter had been referred to the AIU´s Board for their revision. We had also sent a separate note to his supervisor: Dear Edward, The same question to you, for in his e-mail dated 8 April 2019 to Sandra, Hasmukh writes: "Pls do talk to Edward about my last assignment and my final project!"
Here is the USP Vice-Chancellor's response to the plagiarised thesis, as reported by Islands Business, Fiji
Hasmukh Lal had sought and obtained approval for USP to pay for his online studies, reportedly costing the university FJD$18000(US$900).
The dissertation in question was titled: Processes & Impact of Strategic Mergers in High Education, Study of Pacific Technical and Further Education of University of the South Pacific. It bore the date, 21 May, 2019.
USP alleges that the dissertation was not authored by Lal but by a junior staff of the university whom he directed on 17 April 2019 to do research on “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in High Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.”
On 21 May 2019, the fourth draft of the paper was submitted to Lal, the USP alleges. A final draft was done on 22 May 2019 and on 23 May 2019, he reportedly informed his staff that the paper has been sent, although he did not say to whom or where it had been sent to.
“On 07 June 2019, you were conferred the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the Atlantic International University,” said a letter sent to Lal by the USP.
“You subsequently submitted the DBA degree to USP for purposes of updating BANNER with the said doctorate.”
The USP letter continued: “On 14 May 2020, USP obtained a copy of your thesis entitled “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific” that you submitted to the Atlantic International University for the award of the DBA.
“The thesis paper that you submitted for the award of the DBA to the Atlantic International University is the same as that submitted by [name withheld] to you on 22 May 2019 entitled ‘Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.’
“If it is established that you used a USP Document to represent a work of your own to obtain a DBA, it would constitute a breach of paragraph 4.1 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Academic Staff.
“Such a breach would be classified as “gross misconduct” on your part under the USP Discipline of Academic, Professional, Administrative, Library and Technical, Intermediate and Junior and Hourly Paid Staff Ordinance.”
Note: Since his dismissal, he has changed his LinkedIn page retaining the title DR but has dropped any link to AIU.
Please keep me informed of the course of action to be taken against him.
Hasmukh Lal had sought and obtained approval for USP to pay for his online studies, reportedly costing the university FJD$18000(US$900).
The dissertation in question was titled: Processes & Impact of Strategic Mergers in High Education, Study of Pacific Technical and Further Education of University of the South Pacific. It bore the date, 21 May, 2019.
USP alleges that the dissertation was not authored by Lal but by a junior staff of the university whom he directed on 17 April 2019 to do research on “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in High Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.”
On 21 May 2019, the fourth draft of the paper was submitted to Lal, the USP alleges. A final draft was done on 22 May 2019 and on 23 May 2019, he reportedly informed his staff that the paper has been sent, although he did not say to whom or where it had been sent to.
“On 07 June 2019, you were conferred the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the Atlantic International University,” said a letter sent to Lal by the USP.
“You subsequently submitted the DBA degree to USP for purposes of updating BANNER with the said doctorate.”
The USP letter continued: “On 14 May 2020, USP obtained a copy of your thesis entitled “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific” that you submitted to the Atlantic International University for the award of the DBA.
“The thesis paper that you submitted for the award of the DBA to the Atlantic International University is the same as that submitted by [name withheld] to you on 22 May 2019 entitled ‘Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.’
“If it is established that you used a USP Document to represent a work of your own to obtain a DBA, it would constitute a breach of paragraph 4.1 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Academic Staff.
“Such a breach would be classified as “gross misconduct” on your part under the USP Discipline of Academic, Professional, Administrative, Library and Technical, Intermediate and Junior and Hourly Paid Staff Ordinance.”
Note: Since his dismissal, he has changed his LinkedIn page retaining the title DR but has dropped any link to AIU.
Please keep me informed of the course of action to be taken against him.
We also wrote to Professor Richard Coll but we did not receive a reply:
 | Bula Richard, |
From Fijileaks Archive, 3 February 2014:
