"Did Chinese Funds Flow into the Ivy League?" US Department of Education Investigates Harvard and Yale Universities

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The U.S. Department of Education has begun investigating Harvard University and Yale University to determine whether research funds from foreign governments, including China, were involved, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 12th (local time).

According to WSJ, citing Department of Education documents, U.S. universities failed to report at least $6.5 billion (approximately 7.67 trillion KRW) in funding received from foreign governments, prompting the investigation of Ivy League universities in this context.

On the 11th, the Department of Education sent a letter to Harvard University referencing recent Department of Justice cases and requested disclosure of records related to donations or contracts involving the governments of China, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. They also requested records concerning Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE, Russia’s Kaspersky Lab and Skolkovo Foundation, and Iran’s Alavi Foundation.

Yale University was asked to provide records regarding at least $375 million in foreign funds that were not accounted for in reports from the 2014 to 2017 academic years, specifically concerning donations from the Saudi and Chinese governments and telecommunications companies.

U.S. universities are required to disclose to the Department of Education all contracts or donations exceeding $250,000 made with foreign entities. Although these regulations have existed for decades, WSJ reported that the Department of Education has only recently begun to strongly enforce them. The investigation, which started in June last year, marks the seventh or eighth such inquiry following those at Georgetown University and others.

If universities refuse to disclose information, the Department of Education may refer the matter to the Department of Justice and pursue civil or criminal actions. Representatives from Harvard and Yale stated that they are cooperating with the Department of Education in this matter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.