Professors at Ghent University in Belgium had raised serious concerns about the expertise and appointment of Nathan Cofnas months before he publicly accused former Cambridge professor Jason Arday of plagiarism, according to newly reported internal university documents. The disclosure adds another layer to the controversy surrounding Arday’s final weeks, but it does not prove or disprove the plagiarism allegations, which were never formally established against him.
Readers should therefore distinguish between two separate issues: the claims made about Arday’s academic work and the concerns Ghent academics had already raised about Cofnas’s own appointment and research background.
Cofnas joined Ghent University in March 2026 as a postdoctoral researcher working on a project examining the future of liberalism.
But within weeks, members of the university’s Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences questioned whether he was the strongest candidate for the position.
The Guardian reported that the department submitted a 19-page statement to university leaders in May, saying Cofnas had “very limited expertise” in areas central to the post, including political philosophy, liberalism and demography.
Ghent academics questioned appointment before Arday allegations
According to the document, the department believed it was unlikely Cofnas had been the best-qualified candidate among 14 applicants.
Academics also raised concerns about the transparency of his appointment and questioned whether the decision had been influenced by ideological considerations.
The criticism did not begin after the Jason Arday controversy.
In March, a separate letter challenging Cofnas’s appointment was signed by 48 staff members from the department, 73 students and 367 academics from Ghent and other universities, according to The Guardian.
The department also disputed suggestions that Cofnas had specialist expertise in intelligence research.
It said his published work did not demonstrate research experience in some of the areas for which he had become publicly known and argued that some views expressed in his online writing were not supported by sound research.
Cofnas has rejected criticism of his academic credentials, saying his qualifications are publicly available.
He has also argued that opponents are seeking to punish him because of his controversial views.
Cofnas later accused Jason Arday of plagiarism
The internal dispute at Ghent became more significant after Cofnas publicly accused Jason Arday of plagiarism during the summer.
New Daily Prime had earlier reported on allegations that sections of Arday’s doctoral thesis contained similarities to previously published academic work. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday’s doctorate, had previously investigated concerns and said his PhD remained valid. Read New Daily Prime’s original report on the Jason Arday plagiarism allegations
The allegations later developed into wider scrutiny of Arday’s academic record and aspects of his public biography.
Arday denied plagiarism, although he acknowledged making mistakes.
Cambridge subsequently opened a further investigation after receiving additional information. New Daily Prime later reported that Cambridge Chancellor Lord Chris Smith said genuine concerns about academic integrity should be examined rigorously while also condemning what he described as racially charged treatment of Arday. Read New Daily Prime’s report on Cambridge’s response to the plagiarism claims
Arday resigned from Cambridge in August.
He was found dead at his home in Battersea, south London, on 14 August, aged 41.
The Metropolitan Police said his death was unexpected but was not being treated as suspicious.
An inquest was opened on 26 August at London Inner South Coroner’s Court. The proceedings have been adjourned while further inquiries are carried out, meaning the precise circumstances of his death have not yet been formally determined.
New Daily Prime previously reported on Arday’s death and the intense scrutiny that followed his resignation. Read New Daily Prime’s report on Jason Arday’s death
Ghent University disciplinary inquiry continues
Cofnas’s position at Ghent University has also changed since the controversy intensified.
The university initially suspended him on 20 August while it began a preliminary disciplinary investigation.
However, an official Ghent University update published on 26 August says the preventive suspension has now been replaced by a three-month disciplinary measure.
Under the current arrangement, the researcher must work remotely, cannot carry out teaching duties and may conduct only research directly connected with the project for which he was appointed.
The preliminary inquiry into whether further disciplinary action is justified is continuing.
Ghent University has said it supports academic freedom and open debate but maintains that such freedom also carries responsibilities and can be limited where the rights of others are affected.
The university has declined to reveal details of the disciplinary case, citing confidentiality.
That distinction is important because the disciplinary process should not automatically be interpreted as a finding that Cofnas acted improperly.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Wider questions over academic standards and fairness
The latest disclosures broaden a debate that initially centred on Arday’s academic record.
There are now separate questions about whether the allegations against Arday were handled fairly, how Cambridge responded, whether media coverage became disproportionate, and whether Cofnas’s own appointment at Ghent received adequate scrutiny.
Cofnas previously held a research position at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but lost that role in 2024 following controversy over writings on race and intelligence. Reuters and The Guardian have both reported on the dispute surrounding his views and subsequent academic career.
None of that, however, independently settles the evidence concerning Arday’s work.
Questions about the person raising an allegation do not by themselves establish whether the underlying allegation is true or false.
Academic misconduct normally has to be assessed by examining the disputed work, sources, citations, institutional rules and the author’s explanation.
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