16th November 2006

More than 90 of the UK's 115 universities - ancient, old, new and very new - have taken part in this year's Times Higher Awards. Gloucestershire University was named runner-up last night at the prestigious Times Higher Awards 2006, in the Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development category (i).

Vice-Chancellor Patricia Broadfoot of Gloucestershire University was reported saying: "Our genuine commitment to fair trade and sustainability is manifested in our achievement as the first university in England to gain the environmental standard ISO 14001.  Our commitment to ensure that our students have the opportunity to engage with education for sustainable development including the embedding of sustainability into course validation and review and auditing; securing Fair Trade status for our catering and by providing a free bus service between campuses and countywide are just examples of our belief that sustainability must be central to all that we do as an institution. We will continue to innovate across this agenda and make a more substantial contribution in the future."

Philip Booth said: "This award is indeed well deserved and a huge achievement. I have written to send congratulations. Another move regarding sustainability they have not trumpetted loadly enough is that they also now have an ethical investment policy."

Philip Booth said: "I have written in the past as I have been concerned that, like many other universities, Gloucestershire may hold investments in the UK arms industry (ii) - that industry exports billions of pounds worth of weapons every year, many of these to regimes with poor human rights records, to areas of conflict or to countries with huge development needs. The arms trade fuels war, undermines development and breeds corruption. I am therefore delighted to hear that our County university now has a policy not to hold shares in the arms trade(iii). I am hoping our District Council will know follow their example."

Stroud District Green party councillors last week gained a committment from Stroud District Council to look at ethical investments for the Council.

Notes:

(i) The successful shortlisted candidates for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development are listed here:
- Victoria Hands, Ian Spencer, Jamie Quinn, Rosa Gil and Joel Kenrick – London School of Economics & Political Science
- Chris Vincent, Martyn Newton and Trevor Davies – University of East Anglia
- Charles Warren, Pat Willmer and Jan Bebbington – University of St. Andrews
- Amanda Williams, Christine Shiel and David Lifford – Bournemouth University
- Martin Foster, Andrew Simpson and Kristine Mason O’Connor – Gloucestershire University

(ii) Copy of earlier letter to University:

The Campaign Against Arms Trade recently released figures on university investments in the arms trade (specifically BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, GKN, Smiths Group, Cobham and VT Group), and I am disappointed to see that there are no figures for Gloucestershire University. I would appreciate it if you could confirm to me whether or not the University has investments in these companies.

I am particularly concerned about these investments because the UK arms industry exports billions of pounds worth of weapons every year, many of these to regimes with poor human rights records, to areas of conflict or to countries with huge development needs. The arms trade fuels war, undermines development and breeds corruption and is far from an ordinary, everyday business. Our university should not hold shares in the arms trade - it is inappropriate for an institution run for the public good to have any links to this deadly business.

I would wholeheartedly encourage the university to adopt an ethical investment policy that excludes the arms trade, and would appreciate it if you could tell me if this is something that the university is planning to do.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Philip Booth, Press Officer, Stroud District Green Party.

(iii) University reply re policy:

There should be no investment in companies / organisations associated with tobacco, armaments or abuses of human rights or which, in the view of the fund manager, conflict with values espoused by the institution.  The Trustees will regularly consider whether there is a need to revise this Policy statement.