Responsible investment policy library
UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI)
Use this policy library to explore responsible investment policies, or similar, across UK HEIs to support the creation or development of policy at your own institution.
The policies and information have been collated by SOS-UK and ShareAction - more information below.
The information contained herein is based on publicly available data from report and accounts, websites and policies as at August 2020. Some changes have been implemented following this, as and when we have been notified directly.
Organisation name | RINU member | Investments (£m) | Policy | Link | Commitment to ESG/SRI | Divestment status | Exclusions | Positive tilts | Engagement strategy | Transparency / Reporting | Students on committee? | Details | How to change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Sunderland | None | No | N/A | None | |||||||||
University of Surrey | None | Yes | https://www.hud.ac.uk/media/policydocuments/Treasury-Management-Policy.pdf | The University will seek wherever possible to invest in companies and countries which demonstrate a positive approach to individuals, communities, environmental performance and tackling climate change. | Full | The University will not invest in companies which normally derive more than 10% of their turnover from defence or tobacco products. Pooled investment vehicles will be viewed on a ‘case by case’ basis. | The University’s investment managers will be expected to subscribe to a recognised ethical investment screening service (https://www.msci.com/esg-investing) | Yes | SU president on University Council and in attendance at Finance Committee | Staff, students and other stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the policy. They may do so by addressing any questions, suggestions or concerns to the Chief Financial Officer at any time. | |||
University of Sussex | None | 443.665 | Yes | https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/strategy-and-funding/corporate-information | The University believes that, in investing its funds, regard must be made to social, environmental and governance issues. | Full | the University will not invest in tobacco. also wishes to reject investment in gambling, pornography and arms | the University expects its appointed investment managers to consider (not exhaustive); Promotion of: human rights, including but not limited to the equality of gender, race and sexuality/good business ethics and good employment practices/ international co-operation and an end to international conflict/community investment; Protection of the global environment, its climate and its biodiversity including the reduction and future elimination of fossil fuel exploration and production; Sustainable provision and procurement of essential resources and services (such as utilities | We would expect our power as a shareholder to be used to promote good Environmental Social and Governance (‘ESG’) standards by our appointed investment managers. They will be expected to encourage good behaviour or discourage poor behaviour through screening of investments, either positively or negatively or through direct engagement with firms. demonstrate rigorous implementation of the UN PRI. A report will be required each year from the investment manager demonstrating
performance against investment returns and SRI criteria. | The University will seek to be open and transparent about its policy and practice and will actively consider what information can usefully be made available publicly on a periodic basis. | Yes | SU president on Strategic Performance and Resources Committee | |
University of the Arts London | None | Yes | https://www.arts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/155402/UAL-Responsible-Investment-Policy-v5-Jan-2019-PDF-180KB.pdf | The University will adhere to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), which incorporate key Environmental, Social and Governance issues into investment practices. | Full | In the unusual circumstances that UAL holds investments directly, the university shall apply the following principles:
Environment - No evidence of response to allegations of severe damage to ecosystems, natural habitats or populations of species - No evidence of response to allegations of use of threatened species - No evidence of opposition of any global climate change summit - Has not been convicted of a pollution offence under EPA 90 or RSA 93 during the last three years
Developing world - Has not broken the International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes
Human Rights - No evidence of response to allegations of breaches of core
International Labour Organisation standards on child labour, forced labour, forced labour in the supply chain and other labour standards in its own operations
Armaments - Does not produce cluster munitions systems - Has not addressed allegations or indications of involvement in antipersonnel landmines - Does not derive income from strategic military sales
Climate Change - Does not derive income from the extraction, drilling or transportation of fossil fuels
High Interest Rate Lending - Does not derive income from triple digit lending | |||||||
University of the Highlands and Islands | None | No | N/A | None | |||||||||
University of the West of England, Bristol | None | Yes | https://www2.uwe.ac.uk/services/Marketing/about-us/pdf/Sustainability%20documents/Ethical-Investment-Policy.pdf | None | Promotion of: human rights, including but not limited to the equality of gender, race, sexuality, religion and age/good business ethics and good employment practices/community investment /international co-operation and an end to international conflict; Protection of the global environment, its climate and its biodiversity; Sustainable provision and procurement of essential resources and services. | The Board may be advised by any member of the university community of a concern on ethical grounds regarding an investment | |||||||
University of the West of Scotland | None | No | N/A | Full | |||||||||
University of Wales | None | No | N/A | None |
ABOUT THIS TABLE
This spreadsheet contains information about the responsible investment policies of UK HEIs.
The information contained herein is based on publicly available data from report and accounts, websites and policies as at August 2020. Some changes have been implemented following this, as and when we have been notified directly.
Blank fields indicate that, either the information wasn't available, or was not applicable.
ABOUT SOS-UK
Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) is an educational charity created by students and staff at NUS in response to the climate emergency and ecological crisis. We support students to learn, act and lead for sustainability.
ABOUT SHAREACTION
ShareAction is a non-profit working to build a global investment sector which is responsible for its impacts on
people and planet. We mobilise investors, including HEIs via the Responsible Investment Network - Universities (RINU), to take action. Over the last 15 years, ShareAction has used its powerful toolkit of research, corporate campaigns, policy advocacy and public mobilisation to drive responsibility into the heart of mainstream investment. We want a future where all finance powers social progress.
DISCLAIMERS
*Divestment Status assessment (column J): the information contained within this column has been obtained from the People & Planet's website. This is not a complete dataset and was based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, its veracity should be treated accordingly.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct, SOS-UK, ShareAction, their employees and agents cannot guarantee its accuracy and shall not be liable for any claims or losses of any nature in connection with information contained in this document, including (but not limited to) lost profits or punitive or consequential damages or claims in negligence.
SOS-UK and ShareAction do not provide investment advice. The information herein is not intended to provide and does not constitute financial or investment advice. SOS-UK and ShareAction make no representation regarding the advisability or suitability of investing or not in any particular financial product, shares, securities, company, investment fund, pension or other vehicle or of using the services of any particular organisation, consultant, asset manager, broker or other service provider for the provision of investment services. A decision to invest or not or to use the services of any such provider should not be made in reliance on any of the statements made here. You should seek independent and regulated advice on whether the decision to do so is appropriate for you and the potential consequences thereof. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct, SOS-UK, ShareAction, their employees and agents cannot guarantee its accuracy and shall not be liable for any claims or losses of any nature in connection with information contained in this document, including (but not limited to) lost profits or punitive or consequential damages or claims in negligence.
Students Organising for Sustainability is a registered charity operating across the UK. Charity registration number: 1184011.
Fairshare Educational Foundation (t/a ShareAction) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales number 05013662 (registered address 63/66 Hatton Garden, Fifth Floor, Suite 23, London UK, EC1N 8LE) and a registered charity number 1117244.