The Staff Disciplinary Board is considering giving notice to a professor

The Swedish National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct (NPOF) determined in April 2024 that the professor had been guilty of very extensive plagiarism of a student report, which was assessed as a serious deviation from good research practice. The Board also found that the professor had acted with intent. After the professor had appealed in three instances, the decision became final after the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision on 1 September 2025 not to grant leave to appeal.

Halmstad University has made the assessment that misconduct in the form of plagiarism in combination with other forms of misconduct justifies giving notice to quit due to personal reasons. It is the University’s Staff Disciplinary Board that examines disciplinary and labour law measures for the University’s employees. On the other hand, dismissals for employees with the title of professor must be decided by the Government Disciplinary Board for Higher Officials (SAN).

In December 2025, SAN decided not to grant the University’s request for dismissal, as SAN did not consider that the intent to plagiarise has been proven, and that the incorrect publication without proven intent does not justify a dismissal.

Therefore, Halmstad University will now convene its Staff Disciplinary Board to decide whether the professor should be dismissed. The Staff Disciplinary Board will then also have access to a broader basis than SAN has had, since the issue of dismissal is linked to an individual event, while giving notice to quit is based on an overall assessment of misconduct.

The Staff Disciplinary Board is expected to meet sometime during week 9.