Professor Jason Arday Resigns From Cambridge Amid Plagiarism Allegations

His departure follows allegations of plagiarism and questions regarding his academic qualifications, among other claims. These issues reportedly led to his resignation.

Cambridge University had robustly defended Professor Arday in June, claiming 'a vile campaign to undermine his credibility.' It insisted plagiarism claims regarding his 'thesis and journal publications' had been investigated and dismissed by 'the relevant institution' and journals.

The University of Cambridge has since announced a review into its vetting and hiring process for senior academic staff. In an August 5 statement, the University of Cambridge said it would provide no further comment to 'ensure a fair process.'

Dozens of academics at Cambridge have signed a letter demanding an independent inquiry into the processes surrounding Professor Arday’s appointment.

Professor Priyamvada Gopal stated that the resignation is not the end of the story. She asserted that potential mistakes and missteps made by the university require investigation.

Professor Gopal emphasized that the investigation needs to be independent, not managed by the university itself. It must be completely transparent and accountable to the Cambridge community.

The circumstances of the appointment, described as a 'very senior appointment' for a professor 'at a very early stage of his career,' also warrant investigation, Professor Gopal claimed.

Further, Professor Gopal called for information from the Faculty of Education and university communications team. She questioned why the 'media narrative' focused 'so heavily' on his race and youth after Professor Arday was appointed as professor of sociology of education in 2023.

A probe and clear timeline of the handling of plagiarism allegations against Professor Arday are also necessary, according to Professor Gopal. She also questioned whether the university was involved in any efforts to deter journalists from reporting on the allegations.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) is investigating work it published that was co-authored by Professor Jason Arday.

The paper in question, published in 2021, examined the impact of university teaching on 'Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) learners' and 'academics of colour.' It reportedly involved interviews with students and staff.

The University of Glasgow will also review its past appointment of Jason Arday.

Professor Arday's memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, is due to be published by Simon & Schuster. The book claims he was unable to speak until the age of 11.

Liverpool John Moores University, where Professor Arday received his doctorate, had previously cleared Professor Arday of wrongdoing. This followed allegations that were 'thoroughly investigated by the relevant institution and the journals in question.'

However, an academic claims that the University of Cambridge cannot be allowed to mark its own homework with a review. This follows the resignation of a professor embroiled in a high-profile plagiarism row.