Dear colleagues
I fully understand the concerns being raised across the University and well beyond it, regarding Jason Arday’s appointment and I share them. I know there is anger and anxiety around this damaging and difficult case. The highest standards of academic excellence have been a core principle at Cambridge for many centuries, and this is reflected in the outstanding research and teaching we see here every day. We are committed to maintaining those standards.
We will now investigate the circumstances around his appointment by the Faculty of Education back in 2022 and his time here in Cambridge since his appointment nearly four years ago. That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent, and will be carried out independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge. It will take time for this work to be done thoroughly, as you will understand, but the work must begin as soon as possible.
The findings will then inform a review of the process for the appointment of senior academic roles. As you are fully aware, appointments to senior academic roles, as in the case of the Faculty of Education and Jason Arday, are currently led at Department level.
I note that Durham and Glasgow Universities have announced that they are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Jason Arday to academic posts there, and that Jesus College has accepted his resignation from his fellowship.
In addition, the University’s Research Policy Committee will review the Misconduct in Research policy. As you know, the current approach in UK higher education is for the institution where plagiarism allegedly took place to carry out the investigation itself; we followed that approach in this case. We need to understand if there is more we could do when serious allegations are raised in relation to our own academic standards at Cambridge.
In light of the focus on this troubling case and the widespread commentary around it, I want to be very clear that we do not need the outcomes of an investigation to clearly and loudly affirm that our staff of colour are highly valued, for their scholarship, their achievements, and the contributions they make to the institution and the wider academic community. This particular case is an aberration and should not be used to cast aspersions on their work or the legitimacy of their roles at Cambridge.
The desire for quick answers and rapid responses is understandable, but we need to allow these reviews to complete their work effectively so we can learn from any mistakes and, where needed, improve our processes. Alongside these efforts, we also need to continue supporting one another in our work, and
across our collegiate University.Yours sincerely
Professor Deborah Prentice
The Vice-Chancellor
