- The University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row has resigned with immediate effect.
- Prof Jason Arday said he had concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away.
Cambridge opened a formal inquiry after "new information" about Arday's academic qualifications and honorary appointments, with officials noting "a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct".
The case follows NATHAN COFnas claims that Arday's work contains plagiarism and questions some achievements; Cofnas said he found numerous instances and described Arday's work as problematic after his Substack review.
In 2023, the youngest ever black professor at Cambridge became a focal point of the controversy, prompting debate about DEI policy and institutional scrutiny.
Arday has admitted errors in his work but has insisted he is not "a liar", arguing that "there has been, since I arrived at Cambridge, a very well orchestrated and co-ordinated campaign to unseat me from my position" and calling the attack "racially motivated" and a "lightning rod" for DEI policy.
He told reporters that appointing him was "the greatest professional privilege of my life", and that "the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack", adding "there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great".
The university said the process would be thorough and compliant with policy and employment law, while Cambridge noted support for him; Jesus College said it would run its own parallel process.
Arday, who said "this is not the end of my work", also asserted "When that time comes, I will return" and urged time to heal, underscoring the personal toll alongside professional ambitions.
“Arday's resignation follows a plagiarism row that had placed his academic integrity under scrutiny. In his statement, he emphasized that stepping away was the only way to bring the chapter to an end, signaling a definitive conclusion to the controversy.”
BBC
