Peking University has refuted the claims but failed to quell public doubts.

University Party Secretary Yan Wei Fang said teachers are a very important part of a top university. The more excellent teachers a college has, the more students it can attract. He claimed Peking University works hard to improve its faculty, employing 1,000 teachers with doctoral degrees in 2000. One third of the full-time teachers were from abroad.

Yan emphasized that there is no "fake talent" amongst the international teachers employed at the university, The academic committee and professors jointly appraise all applications from foreign professors, set strict requirements in regards to teaching experience and require recommendation letters from former employers.

In regards to the claims relating to falsified intake of foreign teachers, Yan said the university recruits foreign talent in a variety of ways. The terms in the teachers' contracts vary from 12 months to one or two months, to meet the flexible requirements of the classes they teach.

Yan concluded his statement by saying Paking University attracts excellent talent and claiming that critics are not familiar with the university.

Editor: Wing