Universities in the firing line

From a plagiarism case involving actor and PhD graduate Zhai Tianlin, to sexual misconduct by teachers at two famous universities, the reputation of China's higher education sector was tarnished by several high-profile misconduct cases last year.

They triggered widespread criticism online, which prompted punishments from universities and education authorities.

In February, the Beijing Film Academy stripped Zhai of his Phd, and he was removed from Peking University's postdoctoral program.