Eight more UK universities cut recruitment ties with fossil fuel industry | Universities
A growing number of universities have cut ties with fossil fuel companies, banned them from attending recruitment fairs and refused to advertise their roles in the industry, according to the latest higher education league table.
The analysis found a further eight universities have signed up to end recruitment ties to the fossil fuel industry, an increase of 80% on last year. This means that 18 higher education institutions, or 12% of the sector, now refuse to introduce their students to roles in fossil fuel companies.
Josie Mizen, Co-Director of Climate Justice People and PlanetThe chair of the study said: “We are pleased to see the number of universities cutting ties with the fossil fuel industry, the sector most responsible for fueling the climate emergency.
“We know that a just transition away from fossil fuels also requires an end to the funneling of graduates into this dead-end sector, so we are extremely encouraged that a record number of universities have committed to banning recruitment for these disruptive companies in the last 12 months.”
This year’s People and Planet university league ranks 147 UK universities across 14 criteria linked to climate and social justice. Universities are ranked using the typical grading system in UK higher education; It is given as 1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd and fail.
Manchester Metropolitan University The campaign was the overall winner for the fourth year running, with campaigners saying it performed consistently well across all categories.
It also scored highly for energy sources and carbon reduction after investing in a major heat decarbonisation upgrade project to replace gas-fired heating systems and combined heat and power with high-efficiency electric ground and water source heat pumps.
Campaigners said this year’s analysis found many universities were taking bold steps to support immigrant rights, with the number of universities “diverging from private companies that profit from controlling, surveilling and obstructing the movement of people seeking asylum” rising from six last year to 13 this year.
Andre Dallas, co-director of immigration justice at People and Planet, said this is an important step after pressure from student groups across the country to “delegitimize the frontier industry.”
““While government policy continues to scapegoat people who migrate, it is inspiring to see students and workers taking a stand to demand an alternative future characterized by compassion rather than cruelty.”
New universities established after the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 continue to lead the way in sustainability in higher education, with eight in the top 10. These institutions have often been early adopters of actions such as ending hiring ties to fossil fuel companies and withdrawing from frontier industries.
Only three Russell Group universities received a 1st class award this year; Two years ago this was down from six universities. While Oxford University jumped 30 places and maintained the 2:1 score, Cambridge University jumped 10 places and rose from 3rd place to 2:2.
