{"id":2199,"date":"2026-08-06T10:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T10:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2199"},"modified":"2026-08-06T10:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T10:30:08","slug":"cambridge-professor-jason-arday-quits-amid-plagiarism-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2199","title":{"rendered":"Cambridge professor Jason Arday quits amid plagiarism allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (3 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div 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href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Cambridge%20professor%20Jason%20Arday%20quits%20amid%20plagiarism%20allegations&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fe18u68\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fe18u68\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/e18u68\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/13270485-1786002061.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"University of Cambridge\"><\/div><figcaption>Jason Arday, who became the youngest Black professor in the history of University of Cambridge in 2023, stepped down on August 5, 2026 [File: Tolga Akmen\/EPA]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span><a href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\">Al Jazeera Staff<\/a> and <!-- -->AFP<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 6 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">6 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p>Jason Arday has resigned from his post as professor of sociology at the University of Cambridge, following the announcement of a new investigation into his academic qualifications and career.<\/p>\n<p>Arday, who became the youngest Black professor in Cambridge\u2019s history when he was appointed in 2023, announced on Wednesday that he had stepped down \u201cwith immediate effect\u201d from his post at the university and his fellowship at Jesus College.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/5\/mexican-influencer-shot-dead-during-livestream\">Mexican influencer shot dead during TikTok livestream<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/6\/faa-says-trumps-marine-one-briefly-flew-too-close-to-passenger-jet\">FAA says Trump\u2019s Marine One briefly flew too close to passenger jet<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/6\/ex-bangladesh-cricket-captain-shakibs-home-petrol-bombed-in-hasina-fallout\">Ex-Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib\u2019s home petrol-bombed in Hasina fallout<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Arday, who has faced a growing series of questions over his academic writings and credentials, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/goodlawproject.org\/an-update-from-jason-arday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> posted on the Good Law Project website that the scrutiny had become unsustainable, describing months of \u201crelentless accusations, speculation and public commentary\u201d that had taken a toll on him and his family.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement came hours after the university said it had received \u201cnew information\u201d about Arday\u2019s qualifications and honorary appointments and would launch a new investigation, which is separate from an existing academic misconduct review already under way.<\/p>\n<p>His decision to step down comes after a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis and other research and statements.<\/p>\n<p>Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded the doctorate in 2015, investigated the plagiarism allegations but did not uphold them, attributing the issues instead to \u201chonest and reasonable error\u201d. Arday has consistently denied wrongdoing, pointing to that finding as vindication.<\/p>\n<p>Cambridge University had robustly defended Arday in June, claiming \u201ca vile campaign to undermine his credibility\u201d and insisting plagiarism claims regarding his \u201cthesis and journal publications\u201d had been investigated and dismissed by \u201cthe relevant institution\u201d and journals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It did not specify on Wednesday what new information had prompted its investigation, while Jesus College said separately that it was starting its own inquiry.<\/p>\n<p>US academic and self-defined \u201crace realist\u201d Nathan Cofnas is behind some of the allegations. He was a Cambridge research affiliate, but his tenure ended in 2024 amid racism accusations. He has claimed multiple sections of Arday\u2019s doctoral dissertation were copied from other works.<\/p>\n<p>Some of Arday\u2019s claims about his personal life, including that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days and raised millions for charity, have also come under scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with The Times newspaper on Saturday, Arday admitted making academic \u201cmistakes\u201d but said he was being wrongly \u201cportrayed to be a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He also alleged the \u201ccampaign to unseat me from my position\u201d was \u201cracially motivated\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The resignation also raises questions about the release of Arday\u2019s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, which Simon &amp; Schuster was planning to publish later this month.<\/p>\n<p>In his statement, Arday framed his resignation as a pause, writing that he needed \u201ctime to heal\u201d and that he \u201cwill return\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWhen I accepted the extraordinary honour of becoming professor of sociology at Cambridge, it was, without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He says the scrutiny of his work has made him \u201cconclude that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (3 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Jason Arday, who became the youngest Black professor in the history of University of Cambridge in 2023, stepped down on August 5, 2026 [File: Tolga Akmen\/EPA] By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP Published On 6 Aug [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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