Twenty-five universities have achieved the prestigious Fairtrade University and College Award, announces Fairtrade Foundation.
Three universities have gained the highest ‘three star’ award, recognising achievement across a broad range of activities, including Middlesex University, which has been working with Fairtrade Foundation and SOS-UK on the programme since it was redesigned and piloted in 2017. Also, next door neighbours Bournemouth University and Arts University of Bournemouth have both gained a three-star award.
The award recognises the work completed over the last two academic years towards developing an understanding of trade justice and globalisation within the university. This includes the academic year 2021/22, during which time many campuses were closed for months at a time due to covid restrictions, making this year’s awards even more of an achievement.
Award criteria cover a wide range of areas including Research and Curriculum; Campaigning and Influencing; and Procurement, Retail and Catering. Institutions can also receive points for trying out innovative ways to engage staff and students on global issues.
The award is delivered in partnership by Fairtrade Foundation, the National Union of Students, and Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK). The award structure encourages partnership between students, academic and non-teaching staff in the institution with the students’ union.
Joanna Milis, Education Campaigns Manager from the Fairtrade Foundation, said:
‘We are delighted to have so many universities completing the Fairtrade University and College Award in 2022. This award covers the last two academic years, which have been very challenging for institutions. But the effects of the pandemic show how we are one globally interconnected community. Our decisions have far-reaching consequences, and only together can we tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet and its inhabitants.
Students are forming their values and shaping their future careers. It is crucial that they experience a wide range of narratives and opportunities to think differently about the world. As they prepare to take their places as decision makers of the future, we must ensure they have the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the multiple crises we face.’
The universities are:
| Arts University Bournemouth | Fairtrade University and College Award 3* |
| Bournemouth University | Fairtrade University and College Award 3* |
| Middlesex University | Fairtrade University and College Award 3* |
| Coventry University | Fairtrade University and College Award 2* |
| King’s College London | Fairtrade University and College Award 2* |
| University of Leeds | Fairtrade University and College Award 2* |
| University of Oxford | Fairtrade University and College Award 2* |
| University of Edinburgh | Fairtrade University and College Award 2* |
| Kingston University | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| Nottingham Trent University | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Bradford | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Derby | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Greenwich | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| St. Mary’s University | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University College London | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Exeter | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Gloucestershire | Fairtrade University and College Award 1* |
| University of Huddersfield | Fairtrade University and College Award |
| UWE Bristol | Fairtrade University and College Award |
| University of Chester | Fairtrade University and College Award |
| Durham University | Fairtrade University and College Award |
| Oxford Brookes University | Fairtrade University and College Award |
| University of St Andrews | Fairtrade University and College Award |
To register to take part in the award programme starting in Autumn 2022, contact university@fairtrade.org.uk
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For more information, interviews and high-res images, contact:
Email: mollie.letherensmith@fairtrade.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7467 373 981
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) is a new educational charity created by students and staff at NUS in response to the climate emergency and ecological crisis. They actively support students to be the change that society urgently needs, helping them learn, act and lead on sustainability.
Fairtrade Foundation and SOS-UK support universities and colleges to explore globalisation, trade, ethical consumption, and sustainability. For more information, please see Universities and Colleges | Fairtrade Foundation
About Fairtrade
Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in low-income countries.
Fairtrade International is an independent non-profit organization representing 1.9 million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. It owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark of Fairtrade that appears on more than 37,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade International and its member organizations empower producers, partner with businesses, engage consumers, and advocate for a fair and sustainable future.
Fairtrade is committed to fighting the climate crisis. Fairtrade Standards encourage producers to protect the environment by improving soil, planting trees, conserving water, and avoiding pesticides, while Fairtrade’s programmes include climate academies for farmers to share best practice. At the same time, Fairtrade makes training available to producers so that they can use the latest agricultural methods, such as intercropping and shade-grown coffee to adapt to conditions.
The FAIRTRADE Mark on a product means that the Fairtrade ingredients in that product have been independently verified by FLOCERT, an independent certifier accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). FLOCERT can and do suspend or, in some cases, even decertify Fairtrade producer organisations if their audit shows that Fairtrade Standards are not being complied with.