Durham professor resigns as dean amid investigation into thesis

The dean of Durham University's Business School, Tony Antoniou, has resigned from his post amid allegations of plagiarism, writes Tariq Tahir.

It is understood the allegations centre on Professor Antoniou's 1986 DPhil thesis, Futures Markets: Theory and Tests , which he wrote at York University. He remains a professor of finance at Durham.

A spokesman for Durham confirmed that Professor Antoniou had resigned "for personal reasons", adding: "We will be searching internationally to recruit a new dean. Durham University is aware of the investigation and will be making no further comment in order not to prejudice that investigation."

York University confirmed that it was aware of Durham's investigation into the allegation but made no further comment.

When contacted by The Times Higher , Professor Antoniou declined to comment and asked that questions be e-mailed to him. He had not responded by the time The Times Higher went to press.

The professor is one of the most senior academics to face an allegation of plagiarism in recent years. He joined Durham in 1998 as professor of finance and chairman of the department of economics and finance, becoming director, then dean, of the Business School in January 2002.

Before joining Durham, Professor Antoniou was professor of finance and head of the department of economics and finance at Brunel University.

The Durham University website lists 30 papers he has contributed to, in a variety of academic journals, and also mentions that he has secured many research grants from both private and public-sector organisations.

He has been a Quality Assurance Agency subject review specialist, an economics adviser on a national Economic and Social Research Council project and a member of the Advisory Group of the Economics Centre of the Learning and Teaching Support Network, based at Bristol University.

The Business School is currently being managed by John Anstee, a former senior pro vice-chancellor with the university.