Since early May when the encampment in the Old College quad was established, the University has been actively engaging with the protestors and responding to the issues raised about our approach to investment.
This includes:
- Detailed written responses to the issues raised.
- Visits by the senior leadership team to the encampment.
- A number of face-to-face discussions involving the Senior Leadership Team and protestors including those from the encampment, the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS), the Students’ Association and members of the staff community. Some of these meetings also included facilitation from a third party professional mediator or Heads of School.
- Delivery of regular updates to the University community
- Discussions at the University Executive leading to the establishment of two short-life working groups, working in parallel and to compressed timescales, with members who bring expertise from across the University:
- to consider the definition of controversial weapons and armaments used by the University and its fund managers,
- to review our policies and ensure our approach to investments is fully in line with UN Principles of Responsible Investment and our University’s values.
- The launching of a University-wide consultation on the University’s Responsible Investment Policy.
- Discussion at the University Senate of a paper from some Senate members regarding the student welfare risks of the hunger strikes, concerns regarding specific University investments, and absence of academic staff involvement in University investment decisions.
- The commitment by the University to instruct our fund manager to make no new purchases in Alphabet and Amazon stock for a period of at least three months i.e. while the Responsible Investment Policy Consultation is running.
- The short-life working group on the definition of controversial weapons and armaments, used by the University and its fund managers, has produced a report for for the University Executive, which will now go forward to the University Court.