Cambridge to overhaul senior academic hiring after plagiarism scandal

The University of Cambridge has announced it will review its process for appointing senior academics following the resignation of education professor Jason Arday amid accusations of plagiarism and falsifying elements of his CV. The institution said findings from an ongoing investigation into Arday's qualifications and appointments would inform the new review.

The controversy surrounding Arday

Plagiarism allegations against Arday, a Jesus College fellow, were first raised by Nathan Cofnas, a US researcher whose own Cambridge role had previously been terminated. Cofnas highlighted that plagiarism-detection software had identified several passages in Arday's doctoral dissertation as copied verbatim or lightly rephrased from other academics' prior work. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his PhD, investigated the allegations last year and dismissed them as likely the result of honest and reasonable error. Beyond plagiarism, Arday has also faced accusations of fabricating or exaggerating elements of his professional biography.

Calls for independent inquiry

A group of Cambridge academics, including Professor Priyamvada Gopal of postcolonial studies, has called for an independent external probe rather than an internal review. Gopal told BBC Radio 4: "This is reputational damage that has upset colleagues across disciplines, across the political spectrum. I don't think it is an option for Cambridge to just sweep this under the carpet." She argued that Cambridge should not be marking its own homework, suggesting a panel drawn from Cambridge and other institutions to conduct the investigation.

University and college responses

Cambridge said on Friday it was "fully aware of the public commentary and concerns" and would "continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday's appointment and tenure." Jesus College, where Arday also held a fellowship, said his role there had been contingent on his university position. The college added it relies on the university to verify academic credentials for its appointments.