Cambridge University has announced an independent inquiry into its appointment procedures after former professor Jason Arday resigned last week. Arday, who was appointed a professor at Cambridge in 2023, faced allegations of plagiarism concerning his PhD thesis.
Many academics reportedly believe Arday's appointment was influenced more by his personal backstory than his academic ability, suggesting he was not at the expected level for a professorial chair at the institution. Arday had gained significant media attention for his story of not being able to talk until age 11 and read until 18, and for running 30 marathons in 35 days.
The controversy has led to renewed scrutiny of diversity and inclusion efforts. Joseph Harker, the Guardian’s senior editor for diversity and development, stated that positive discrimination, which is illegal in the UK, reduces the pool of applicants and can lower standards. He added that positive action, which involves offering training or short-term experiences to underrepresented groups, aims to level the playing field before job applications.