Cambridge University has initiated an independent review to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Professor Jason Arday, the institution's youngest Black professor. The review will assess the support provided to Arday prior to his passing and examine the broader processes related to his appointment and tenure.
Professor Arday, 41, was found dead at his home in London last month, shortly after his resignation amid allegations of plagiarism and questions about his public biography. An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.
Vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice stated that the university is reflecting on whether more could have been done to support Professor Arday during a period of intense external scrutiny. "Given the devastating outcome, we are all asking ourselves whether we could have and should have done more," Prentice said in a video message. "This review will answer that question."
The review will be conducted in two parts. The first, led by Nazir Afzal, former chief crown prosecutor for North West England, will focus on the specific support and protections available to Professor Arday in the period leading up to his death. Afzal, who is also the chancellor of the University of Manchester, emphasized the need to ask difficult questions about the case.
The second part of the review will take a broader look at Cambridge University's recruitment practices for academics and the support systems in place for faculty members once they are appointed.
Previously, Cambridge University had announced an investigation into Professor Arday's appointment following academic integrity concerns. Professor Arday resigned on August 5, stating that his departure should not be seen as an admission of the "narratives that have surrounded me." The controversy primarily centered on claims of plagiarism in his doctoral thesis from Liverpool John Moores University, although that institution had previously cleared him of wrongdoing. The university's new review aims to encompass institutional processes and practices beyond the specific allegations.