Recently, a netizen posted that they received a notification from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Northern Cultural Research Institute regarding the issuance of certificates for “academicians” and “experts.” They were informed that in order to obtain an “academician” certificate, a fee of 1200 yuan per certificate was required, while for the “expert” certificate, a fee of 1000 yuan per certificate was needed. This news quickly sparked controversy and has now been halted.
The notification shared by the netizen stated that the research institute claimed, “After strict evaluation by the Academic Committee, approval by the Institute Council, and public announcement without objection, we are pleased to inform you that you have been granted the title of academician or expert at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Northern Cultural Research Institute.”
According to a report by Modern Express on April 15th, the netizen mentioned that they had no prior contact with the institute and received the notification via email. After the post gained significant attention, individuals contacted them requesting the post to be deleted.
On the same day, a topic labeled “Inner Mongolia Research Institute charges 1200 yuan for an academicianship certificate” attracted widespread attention on the internet.
The netizen expressed disbelief, stating, “If this is true, then academicianship is being devalued. Many researchers dedicate their lives to their work and yet fail to achieve the title of academician. Now, if you can simply pay 1200 yuan to obtain the title from the Inner Mongolia Research Institute, what does that say about the efforts and sacrifices of those who pursue research diligently? Are their youth and dedication to be wasted in this manner?”
“Money talks. Pay 1200 yuan for an academician certificate, then create social media accounts on platforms like Kuaishou, TikTok, and Xiaohongshu, start live streaming to deceive people and earn back the money a thousandfold within minutes.”
On April 15th, Modern Express reached out to the research institute, and a staff member stated, “This isn’t the first time we’ve done this. However, the leadership felt that the title of ‘academician’ carries too much influence, so it has been halted.”
The staff member also mentioned that since it was the first time conducting such an activity, they had only planned to recruit 5 to 10 individuals and hadn’t issued certificates yet. The initial purpose of sending out notifications for recruitment was to have “academicians” and “experts” participate in roundtable discussions or relevant projects, essentially forming an intellectual think tank. The 1200 yuan or 1000 yuan fee was intended to provide them with computers, office supplies, and other necessities. The staff member explained, “Our institute lacks funds, but more importantly, we need to print the certificates, which incurs expenses. But given the current situation, we have decided not to proceed with this.”
According to the official website, the research institute was established in May 2011 with the approval of the Inner Mongolia Department of Culture. It is a non-profit comprehensive research institution specializing in the study of Northern Xinjiang culture, literature, and arts. The institute is registered with the Inner Mongolia Civil Affairs Department and is under the supervision of the Inner Mongolia Department of Culture and Tourism. Its responsibilities include conducting cultural tourism research, exchanges, consultations, promotions, and lectures.