Cambridge professor resigns amid plagiarism investigation

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 AUGUST 2026 —

Jason Arday resigned as professor of sociology in education at the University of Cambridge on Wednesday after the university opened a formal inquiry into allegations of plagricism in his academic work and questions about his qualifications.

Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor aged 37 in 2023, said the public accusations had taken a “profound toll” on him and his family. His resignation statement, distributed by the Good Law Project, followed weeks of media scrutiny that began when Nathan Cofnas, a former Cambridge researcher, publicly challenged Arday’s claims of charitable fundraising and marathon running.

Cambridge confirmed it had started an investigation following “new information” about Arday’s qualifications and honorary appointments. “To ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded,” the university said in a statement.

The Times of London reported that Cambridge opened the inquiry after receiving evidence it described as showing some of Arday’s research was “fabricated” and contained “impossible” evidence. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday’s 2015 Ph.D., had previously cleared him of plagiarism in its own review.

In a 2023 interview with the Guardian, Arday defended his fundraising claims, saying the £5.5 million raised over 20 years was achieved with help he could not name due to non-disclosure agreements. He also acknowledged “some mistakes” in his doctoral work, attributing them to limited supervision.

A publisher said Arday’s memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things,” would still be released next week as planned. Simon & Schuster said the book would go ahead “as scheduled.”

The controversy has drawn support from more than two dozen academics and politicians who signed a letter circulated by the Good Law Project describing the plagiarism allegations as a “smear campaign” aimed at undermining Black academics in positions of influence.

Arday’s appointment at Cambridge in 2023 highlighted his personal story of overcoming dyslexia, developmental delays and autism, which he said left him non-verbal until age 11 and illiterate until his late teens. His resignation statement said he hoped the decision would not be seen as a loss of faith in scholarship or an acceptance of the narratives surrounding him.