A group of academics is demanding an independent investigation into the appointment of Professor Jason Arday, who recently resigned from his positions at the University of Cambridge due to allegations of plagiarism and curriculum vitae discrepancies.

Professor Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest-ever Black professor in 2023, has also faced accusations of fabricating or exaggerating elements of his academic and personal achievements. He has publicly defended himself and his work.

The focus has now shifted to how Cambridge University handled concerns surrounding Arday's qualifications and appointments. Professor Priyamvada Gopal, a professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge and a proponent of the independent inquiry, stated that the university is facing "massive reputational damage" from the situation.

"This is reputational damage that has upset colleagues across disciplines, across the political spectrum," Gopal told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "So I don't think it is an option for Cambridge to just sweep this under the carpet and not take any action at all."

Cambridge University announced on Thursday that it had initiated an investigation into "new information" regarding Arday's academic qualifications and appointments, in addition to a prior review of plagiarism allegations. However, Gopal argued that the university should not be responsible for self-assessment, suggesting that a panel comprising senior academics from Cambridge and other institutions would be more appropriate for an investigation.

The initial accusations of plagiarism in Arday's work were raised by Nathan Cofnas, a U.S. researcher whose position at a Cambridge college was terminated following backlash over his views on race and meritocracy. Cofnas highlighted findings from plagiarism detection software that indicated sections of Arday's doctoral dissertation were copied verbatim or slightly rephrased from existing academic works.

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), which awarded Arday his PhD, previously investigated the plagiarism claims last year and concluded they were likely the result of "honest and reasonable error." Cofnas also noted that a retired professor had previously raised concerns about Arday's subsequent academic articles, leading to correction notes from two journals, and questioned certain claimed achievements, including marathon running and charitable fundraising.

Several universities have also denied Arday held the academic roles he listed on his CV. The controversy has spurred debate within academia regarding the scrutiny Arday faced, with some suggesting his race may have been a factor. Arday has acknowledged errors in his work but denied plagiarism, attributing potential mistakes to his autism and a lack of early supervision. He also denied falsifying his achievements and stated his resignation should not be interpreted as an acceptance of narratives he believes were "racially motivated."

Gopal commented that universities are increasingly targeted by a "a lazy and false division between academic excellence and diversity and equality on campus," which she described as part of "culture wars rather than any part of university life." She and her colleagues found Arday's early appointment to a "very senior, very prestigious" post unusual, especially given his public profile.

Gopal further suggested that any investigation should examine whether the university was involved in any efforts to prevent journalists from reporting on the allegations. This concern arose after reports that the Metropolitan Police had investigated Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove over a harassment complaint related to his contact with Arday concerning plagiarism allegations. The Metropolitan Police has since closed the case and apologized for the investigation.

The University of Cambridge and LJMU have been approached for comment by the BBC.