The University of Sheffield has received at least £72m from arms trade since 2012, according to data gathered from a Freedom of Information request.
The FOI request reveals the University has received year-on-year investment from organisations including BAE Systems, GKN Ltd, and Boeing, each of which are producers in the automotive and aerospace industries and manufacture weapons and combat vehicles.
Non- and semi- financial relationships have been established between the University of Sheffield and firms whose business involves the production and sale of arms, with some having been invited to employability and recruitment events, poster research presentations, and the mentoring of students by Boeing as recently as September 2022.
Councillor Minesh Parekh sits on Sheffield City Council’s Economic Development and Skills committee. He asked the Council to ‘coordinate promoting local and ethical employers and employment opportunities’ with both universities in the city, and determined the city’s universities ‘should be supporting students and graduates to find employment in companies that foster inclusive, sustainable and ethical growth’.
He said: “There are ways to build a productive economy without sacrificing our ethics. There is a way to run a university and to generate knowledge to benefit humanity, rather than develop frightful means of destruction.
“We want to build Sheffield as a powerhouse for clean growth, and to lead our fight for a better world. Sheffield University—established through the penny-donations of working class people to benefit working class people—should be leading that endeavour.”
It was discovered in 2020 BAE Systems had sold over £17bn worth of arms to the Saudi Arabian government since 2015 who had engaged in a military campaign in Yemen, and speculation has built over the UK government’s interest in the firm.
BAE met Ex-International Trade Secretary Liam Fox in 2018 to discuss relations with the Saudi capital four weeks after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, an outspoken journalist against the Yemeni Civil War.
In 2016, BAE Systems said: “The Group’s extensive in-Kingdom training and support activities are at high tempo. The Royal Saudi Air Force has achieved high utilisation and aircraft availability across its Typhoon and Tornado fleets, operating under demanding conditions.”
Cllr Parekh continued: “Our universities and college have a public duty to promote careers in professions that advance social, economic, and climate justice. Following this revelation, I will be reaching out to each institution to see how the city can deliver careers for our graduates that better prepare us for tomorrow’s world.”
A group of students occupied The Diamond on the University of Sheffield campus in October to protest the relationship between Rolls Royce and the university, as well as other arms-dealing firms.
A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield, said: “The University has a wide range of research, development and learning partnerships that work to further innovation, provide opportunities for students and find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
“Our connections with industrial partners mean we can help to influence positive change and accelerate more sustainable manufacturing practices – making things faster, cheaper and greener to support our regional and national economy. For example, our work in high-performance lightweight materials has led to the production of lighter, more fuel-efficient cars and planes.
“We have a code of ethics for all of our research and innovation, which ensures there is rigorous governance in place.
“We are also committed to providing our students with information about a wide range of organisations offering placements and graduate jobs at our careers fairs, so they can make personal informed decisions about their future careers.”