BEIJING, March 20 -- The Ministry of Education says Chinese universities should have the primary responsibility when it comes to dealing with academic plagiarism.

    In a circular issued Thursday, university actions were told to be in accordance with the law and the help of an academic committee.

    Punishment for plagiarists should involve warnings, dismissal or even legal charges.

    Those caught could also have research programs suspended or terminated, could lose their funding, or see awards and honors revoked.

    Plagiarists will also be ineligible for financial support and academic awards for an undefined period of time.

    All cases should be made pubic and handled in an open way.

    The notice also ordered universities to set up workshops for teachers and students to improve their awareness of academic discipline.

    The Ministry of Education says plagarism cases are up in Universities but it failed to provide specific numbers.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.

    (Source: XHTV)