University Of Malta Visiting Lecturer Found To Have Plagiarised His Work Ahead Of Transfer To PhD Course
A visiting International Relations lecturer at the University of Malta, who is also an official and former candidate at the Nationalist Party, was found to have plagiarised the work he submitted ahead of a transfer to a PhD course.
Lovin Malta is reliably informed that the work Ryan Cefai Mercieca submitted as part of the transfer of his registration from MPhil to PhD was flagged by the Faculty of Arts and assessed by the Faculty’s doctoral committee, which is chaired by Prof. Nicholas Vella.
The committee found that 75% of Cefai Mercieca’s work, including entire pages, was plagiarised and referred it to the University Assessment Disciplinary Board, which is chaired by Pro-Rector Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo.
The board ruled that Cefai Mercieca should be expelled, as a student, from the University and that he should only be allowed to re-enter after three years, and only if the Senate approves. His work has also been ruled null and void.
“The material on which an assessment was made is not a Ph.D material and did not relate to grading in any way,” Cefai Mercieca said. “The true version of events is in front of the relevant authorities and since the case is still sub judice it would be unwise and unethical for me to comment further on the matter.”
“It is clear that the purpose of the article is that of character assassination and not faithful unbiased reporting since it is of no interest to the public.”
The board’s decision is the harshest possible punishment envisaged by the University Assessment Regulation.
Lovin Malta is informed that this was the University of Malta’s first plagiarism case involving a doctorate student in several years.
Asked whether Cefai Mercieca will maintain his position as a visiting lecturer, a spokesperson for the UoM said it is not its policy to comment about individual cases of alleged plagiarism.
“The University has its own bodies that deal with any such allegations in a transparent manner and parties have the right to appeal,” the spokesperson said. “Casual lecturers are engaged on as-needed basis and the exigences of departments vary from year to year.”
Ryan Cefai Mercieca listed as a visiting lecturer at the Department of International Relations
Cefai Mercieca’s name has since been removed from the list of visiting lecturers at the Department of International Relations. Asked whether this was linked to his plagiarism case, a University spokesperson responded:
“Mr Ryan Mercieca was engaged on a casual basis to coordinate one study-unit during the first semester of this academic year. Once his assignment was completed, the services of Mr Mercieca were no longer required.”
Besides working as a visiting lecturer, Cefai Mercieca is also involved in the Nationalist Party, having contested the 2017 general election on the 13th (Gozo) district, obtaining 738 first-count votes.
A few months before the election, he was embroiled in a controversy in which he was accused of benefitting off a system of fake youth NGOs at the Gozo Youth Council to obtain over €100,000 in EU and EEA funds. However, then Opposition leader Simon Busuttil stood by Cefai Mercieca, arguing that the candidate had categorically denied the allegations.
Last year, Cefai Mercieca was appointed a representative of the Nationalist Party’s College of Councillors, but he told Lovin Malta that he no longer forms part of that body.
A previous edition of the article incorrectly stated that Cefai Mercieca’s PhD itself was found to have been plagiarised. The plagiarism was actually in the work he submitted for transfer from MPhil to PhD
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