Academics call for independent inquiry into Jason Arday's Cambridge appointment
Academics are calling for an independent inquiry into the University of Cambridge's appointment of Professor Jason Arday following allegations of plagiarism and CV fabrication. The university has launched its own investigation into the claims.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about academic integrity and the transparency of hiring processes at elite institutions, particularly when internal investigations are perceived as biased.
Image caption, Prof Jason Arday said he was not a liar after accusations of plagiarism emerged
A group of academics is calling for an independent investigation into the appointment of Prof Jason Arday, who resigned from his University of Cambridge roles following allegations of plagiarism.
The former chair of the education faculty has also faced accusations of fabricating or exaggerating elements of his CV. He has defended himself and his work.
Attention has now turned to Cambridge's handling of concerns about Arday, who became its youngest-ever black professor in 2023.
Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge and among those calling for an independent inquiry, said the university was facing "massive reputational damage" over the affair.
"This is reputational damage that has upset colleagues across disciplines, across the political spectrum," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday.
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