Jason Arday plagiarism accuser Nathan Cofnas faced doubts over expertise, 'far-right agenda' at Ghent

Nathan Cofnas, the academic who exposed Cambridge University Sociology professor Jason Arday’s plagiarism, faced objections from fellow academics at Ghent University over his appointment to a postdoctoral research role.Cofnas joined the Belgian university in March for a project examining “the future of liberalism”. Soon after his appointment, professors of philosophy and moral sciences department raised questions about his suitability for the role, including his academic expertise and the process through which he was selected, The Guardian reported.The department submitted a 19-page statement to the university’s rector and the dean of the relevant faculty on May 28, after its council approved the document as its official position on the appointment on May 27.The academics questioned whether Cofnas had been the strongest candidate among 14 applicants. They said his background showed “very limited expertise” in political philosophy, liberalism and demography, which they identified as central to the research project.They also said the job requirement for a “strong research interest in liberalism” was not reflected in his publication record or CV.The concerns went beyond Cofnas's acade...