The University of Cambridge should continue with the investigation it announced into the appointment and tenure of Professor Jason Arday, a friend and former colleague has said, after the professor resigned amid allegations of plagiarism and was subsequently found dead.
Calls for the inquiry to proceed
Professor Arday resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism emerged. The university had already said it would examine the circumstances surrounding his appointment and tenure, with the outcome to inform a wider review of processes for appointing senior roles.
It is understood the university has been reluctant to press ahead immediately while Mr Arday’s family are still grieving. But Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge and a friend and former colleague of Prof Arday, told Times Radio that the inquiry should go forward.
“They have announced an investigation, and we should let that proceed. We should see what we learn from it.”
Sir Simon argued that public institutions must reflect on their systems and consider improvements where necessary, especially where public interest and institutional practice intersect. He also expressed concern about the state of Prof Arday’s mental health and whether media scrutiny had failed to safeguard a vulnerable person.
Allegations, scrutiny and welfare concerns
According to those close to him, Prof Arday endured sustained media attention and, following his departure from Cambridge, faced further public questioning about aspects of his career. Sir Simon said the professor had reported racist abuse during his time at Cambridge and had been subjected to hostile behaviour that included “racist hate speech” and threats.
Lord Simon Woolley, principal of Homerton College and a former mentor to Prof Arday, told BBC Radio 4 that his friend had felt "hounded to death".
- Prof Arday resigned last week after plagiarism allegations were made.
- The university announced an investigation into his appointment and time at Cambridge.
- Prof Arday was found dead on Friday; police treat the death as unexpected.
Local implications and unanswered questions
The situation raises immediate questions for Cambridge about how it manages senior appointments, protects staff welfare, and communicates with the public when allegations emerge. The university has said the findings of its inquiry will feed into a review of the process for appointing senior roles — a development that could affect governance and human resources practice across the collegiate institution.
There are also unresolved issues about the balance between investigative scrutiny and support for individuals under pressure. Sir Simon’s comments that Prof Arday’s mental health was left “in tatters” highlight concerns raised by colleagues about duty of care when academics become the focus of intense public attention.
| Event | Timing (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Resignation from Cambridge | Last week |
| University announced investigation | Before Prof Arday's death |
| Prof Arday found dead | Friday |
The university must now weigh the sensitivities of a grieving family against the public interest in understanding how senior appointments were handled. How Cambridge chooses to proceed will be watched closely by staff, students and the wider academic community, both for the specific findings and for any changes to procedures that aim to avoid similar tragedies in future.
For now, colleagues and friends have urged reflection and for lessons to be learnt — a call that places the university’s next steps under particular scrutiny.
