University of Cambridge to probe Jason Arday’s appointment by education faculty
Professor Jason Arday quit his post last week following media reports that he'd plagiarised his PhD thesis.
Last updated 12th Aug 2026
The University of Cambridge has said it will investigate how a professor who resigned amid a plagiarism row was appointed by its Faculty of Education and his time teaching at the institution, as the vice-chancellor called the case an “aberration”.
Last week, the university confirmed it would continue its investigation into the circumstances around Professor Jason Arday’s “appointment and tenure” after he quit, adding that findings will feed into a review of the process for appointing senior roles.
Dozens of academics at the prestigious institution signed a letter calling for an independent inquiry into the processes around his appointment.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said in an update on Wednesday that the investigation will be carried out “independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge”.
In a statement, she said: “I fully understand the concerns being raised across the university and well beyond it regarding Jason Arday’s appointment and I share them.
“I know there is anger and anxiety around this damaging and difficult case.
“We will now investigate the circumstances around his appointment by the Faculty of Education back in 2022 and his time here in Cambridge since his appointment nearly four years ago.
“That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent, and will be carried out independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge.”
She reiterated that the findings will inform a review of the process for the appointment of senior academic roles, and that the university’s misconduct in research policy will be reviewed.
She added: “In light of the focus on this troubling case and the widespread commentary around it, I want to be very clear that we do not need the outcomes of an investigation to clearly and loudly affirm that our staff of colour are highly valued, for their scholarship, their achievements and the contributions they make to the institution and the wider academic community.
“This particular case is an aberration and should not be used to cast aspersions on their work or the legitimacy of their roles at Cambridge.”
Professor Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge’s English faculty and one of the signatories who called for an independent inquiry, told the Press Association last week that Prof Arday’s case had “acted as a gift to people and forces who have been targeting equality, diversity and inclusion in universities for a long time now”.
Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, quit following a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis – completed at Liverpool John Moores University – and other research.
Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity.