Jason Arday: Cambridge to review hiring after professor quits

Cambridge acts after resignation

Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, stepped down on Wednesday after the university launched a probe into his “academic qualifications and honorary appointments”.

As the Independent reported, the move followed media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis, completed at Liverpool John Moores University, and other research, with further questions raised over claims including that he ran 600 miles in six days and raised £5.5 million for charity.

The story echoes a separate high-profile university row that dominated headlines earlier this year.

What Cambridge said about Jason Arday

In a statement released on Friday, the university confirmed it would press ahead with its inquiry into the professor of sociology of education despite his departure, and said the outcome would shape how it fills senior posts in future:

"The university will continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday’s appointment and tenure. The findings will feed into a review of the process for the appointment of senior academic roles."

- Cambridge

Cambridge added that its Research Policy Committee will review its misconduct in research policy, while Jesus College had previously indicated it would launch its own process concerning the allegations.

Arday has not publicly responded to the specific claims, and none of the allegations against him has yet been proven.