Voigt's accusations against the TU-Chemnitz - what the university says about it

Which rules and regulations were changed?

In fact, the doctoral regulations were changed. When the plagiarism proceedings were initiated, the doctoral regulations from 2022 applied, as the TU announced. New doctoral regulations came into force on March 6, 2025. The proceedings surrounding Voigt's dissertation were continued on the basis of the new regulations. The regulations were amended again in June 2025.

According to the university, paragraph 22 of the doctoral regulations is decisive for the plagiarism procedure. This had been "adapted by inserting gender-equitable language and correcting the reference to the amended Saxon Higher Education Act". "The content of these regulations has not been changed." Also relevant to the plagiarism procedure were the regulations on safeguarding good scientific practice from 16 June 2022.

Were other assessment criteria changed in the procedure?

According to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Faculty Council's Doctoral Committee prepared a basic paper "to operationalize existing rules and the relevant legal provisions" from October 2024. The highest court rulings were also taken into account. The paper should "be used for an initial assessment in the event of a plagiarism check", according to the faculty.

The paper is entitled "Principles and criteria for the assessment of plagiarism allegations regarding completed doctorates at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Chemnitz University of Technology". It was finally adopted by the Faculty Council by resolution in May 2025. "It is to be understood as a guideline and only serves to pre-structure the decision-making process in individual cases," announced the Chemnitz University of Technology press office, referring to information from the responsible faculty.

Voigt wants to take legal action against the Chemnitz University of Technology's decision. What is the process?

Everything indicates that the matter could drag on for a long time. The decision to revoke the doctorate is an administrative act. The deadline for an appeal is one month. According to Voigt's lawyer, an appeal has already been lodged. At the same time, they have requested further access to the files. Only then will it be possible to justify the objection, which is the intention. The TU Chemnitz must then decide on the appeal.

This could take some time - there is also a lecture-free period in between. Voigt can only take legal action before the Chemnitz Administrative Court once the decision has been made. Another few months could pass before a decision is made there.

Why was the Chemnitz University of Technology's decision different to the first expert opinion it apparently commissioned?

This remains unclear in detail for the time being. Voigt and his lawyers repeatedly refer to the conclusion of the external expert. According to them, the expert came to the following conclusion: "The extent and quality of the misconduct are not significant enough to revoke the academic degree," they quote from the report, which was reportedly submitted in February 2025. Chemnitz University of Technology had pointed out in the past that the external report was included in the consideration, but that it "could not be the sole basis for the decision".

Voigt had written his dissertation on the topic of "The American presidential election campaign: George W. Bush versus John F. Kerry" and conducted interviews in the USA for this purpose.

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