Cambridge to Review Senior Hiring After Professor Jason Arday Resigns Amid Plagiarism Allegations
The University of Cambridge has launched an investigation into the appointment of former professor Jason Arday and will incorporate its findings into a broader review of senior academic hiring, following calls for an independent probe.
The University of Cambridge said it will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the appointment and tenure of former professor of education Jason Arday, who resigned after allegations of plagiarism and questions about his curriculum vitae. The university indicated that the results of this inquiry will be used in a wider review of the process for senior academic appointments.
A group of academics, including postcolonial studies professor Priyamvada Gopal, has urged an independent investigation, warning that the case has caused reputational damage to the institution. > "I don't think it is an option for Cambridge to just sweep this under the carpet and not take any action at all," Gopal told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, faced accusations that portions of his PhD dissertation were copied from earlier works, a claim first raised by US researcher Nathan Cofnas. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded the doctorate, previously investigated the plagiarism allegations and upheld the degree, describing any errors as "honest and reasonable."
Further scrutiny has emerged over claims on Arday's CV regarding past academic positions, charitable fundraising, and personal achievements, some of which have been denied by the institutions named. Arday has acknowledged mistakes but denied intentional plagiarism, attributing errors to his autism and limited early supervision.
The controversy has also involved a police investigation into a Times Higher Education reporter, which was later closed, and legal correspondence from law firm Carter-Ruck to the same outlet. In addition, discrepancies have been reported between an advance copy of Arday's forthcoming memoir and its earlier proposal, including differing accounts of a suicide attempt and a childhood accident.
Cambridge has not provided further comment, and a university spokesperson declined to elaborate when approached for additional details.