Cambridge to review hiring processes after Arday row

The University of Cambridge has committed to reviewing its appointment processes for senior academic roles amid continued scrutiny over its decision to appoint Jason Arday as a professor.

Arday’s resignation on 5 August after facing questions about his academic conduct has done little to quell the furore around the top-ranked institution.

Updating an earlier statement that launched an investigation into Arday’s “academic qualifications and honorary appointments” in light of “new information”, Cambridge confirmed on 7 August that the inquiry will continue despite the resignation.

Arday, the youngest black professor ever appointed by Cambridge, stood down citing relentless public scrutiny after facing a series of allegations, including claims he plagiarised part of his PhD thesis and journal papers.

He has admitted making mistakes in his work but not misconduct. The university that awarded him his doctorate, Liverpool John Moores, has investigated and dismissed the allegations.

Cambridge said it will “continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday’s appointment and tenure”.

It also committed to feeding the findings into “a review of the process for the appointment of senior academic roles”.

The university has said it has received several “ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct” which it has committed to investigating.

The latest statement also commits the University’s Research Policy Committee to a review of the institution’s misconduct in research policy.

Scholars have called for an independent investigation of the case, given the limitations likely to be faced by the Cambridge probe.

Academics within the institution have been pushing for outside involvement. Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies, told the BBC the investigation should be conducted by a mix of senior academics at Cambridge and scholars from other universities.

Others have suggested the English regulator, the Office for Students, take up the case. It has declined to comment on the speculation.

Arday is due to publish his memoir this month, with publisher Simon & Schuster sticking by the author despite the controversies.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com