The University and Colleges Union Glasgow (UCUG) notes the decisions made by the University Court on 18 June 2024.

We are deeply disappointed by the failure of the University Court to vote to fully divest from the arms industry now. The ongoing, abhorrent Israeli policy of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza serves as a dire warning of what investment in the arms industry entails.

Our union position on divestment is therefore unchanged. We salute the tireless work of students and staff who have campaigned on this issue and pledge to redouble our efforts to get the university to divest from the arms industry as soon as possible. That the university has now called for a consultation on socially responsible investment to conclude by November is testament to their hard work.

We welcome the University Court’s commitment to support Palestinian students and universities, now and in the future, and we will continue to work with all relevant actors to ensure this support is delivered.

Over the next months, we will engage our members about the best way to proceed, and we will coordinate our next steps with our campus sister unions, the Students Representative Council, relevant student groups, and the Rector of the university, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah. We believe that another university is possible!