Cambridge University boss investigates faculty for appointing ‘Professor Plagiarism’ as website locks down amid ‘anger and anxiety’ around ‘damaging and difficult case’

Cambridge University's vice-chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, has ordered an investigation into the Faculty of Education over its appointment of Jason Arday, the academic dubbed "Professor Plagiarism" after colleagues accused him of copying others' work and inventing prior academic posts. Prentice said the case had caused "anger and anxiety" across the university, describing it as "damaging and difficult", though she stressed it was an "aberration" that should not be used to "cast aspersions" on other staff of colour. Arday resigned last week, citing the "personal cost" of the controversy, and cancelled promotional events for his forthcoming memoir.

The independent inquiry, to be led by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge, will examine Arday's 2022 appointment and his nearly four years at the university, with findings expected to inform a wider review of how senior academic posts are filled. Durham University, his previous employer, and Glasgow University have launched similar investigations. Separately, the Faculty of Education has taken its staff webpage offline amid the fallout, and one of Arday's colleagues, Dr Farah Ahmed, has faced scrutiny over historic links to the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which she says she distanced herself from in 2010.