Overview
- The University of Cambridge announced an investigation into newly reported material about Arday’s academic record and appointments and he resigned from his professorship with immediate effect.
- Arday denies deliberately plagiarising or inventing achievements while acknowledging errors and saying factors such as autism, limited early supervision, and lack of professional proofreading played a part in those mistakes.
- Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his 2015 PhD, investigated similar allegations in 2025 and concluded the thesis remained valid because the problems were likely honest and reasonable errors.
- Reporters and academics have questioned other claims on Arday’s CV, including visiting or honorary roles and high-profile running and fundraising achievements, and some universities say certain entries are disputed.
- Nearly 100 Cambridge academics have called for an independent, transparent inquiry and universities including Glasgow have launched reviews of appointment checks, a step that could change how elite institutions vet senior hires and handle misconduct complaints.