University bans on big oil firms at recruitment fairs rise by 30%

Survey finds post-1992 universities leading the way on sustainability and ethics

More universities are banning fossil fuel companies from recruitment fairs in a sign of the sector’s shrinking social licence among young people.

The annual survey of sustainability and ethics in higher education found there has been a 30% rise in the number of institutions stopping fossil fuel companies taking part in graduate fairs this year.

The move, which is part of a wider drive to limit investment in big oil, follows years of campaigning by staff and students across the higher education sector.

Josie Mizen, of the student campaign group People and Planet, which carries out the survey, said: “We’re delighted to see universities who’ve taken this vital step leading the way in this year’s university league. As the climate crisis escalates, more and more universities are realising that climate justice can only be achieved by cutting ties with the fossil fuel industry.”

The survey found that the vast majority of the university sector had committed to divesting from fossil fuel companies, although many still needed to follow through on that pledge. Ten had also decided to end their links via recruitment to environmentally destructive industries, up 30% since last year.

Laura Clayson, the campaigns manager at People and Planet, said there was more work to be done: “Only 55% of UK universities have exclusions for fossil fuel extractor companies in their ethical investment policies, despite 78% having made public commitments to go fossil free … we look forward to the sector aligning their policies with their proclamations in recognition of these demands for justice.”

This year’s survey ranked 149 UK universities based on 14 criteria linked to climate and social justice.

It found that universities established since 1992 continued to lead the way, claiming seven of the top 10 places. Just four of the Russell Group of universities scored the highest marks this year, down from six in 2023.

Andre Dallas, of People and Planet, said the progress among most universities was owing to the determination of student campaigns.

“Over the past year particularly, students across the UK have been unequivocal in their stance that they won’t allow their universities to continue to invest in blatant injustices like the hostile environment and climate collapse.”

The University of Bedfordshire was named as the overall winner, having finished in the top three for the past three years. The report found the university had taken steps to divest endowment funds from the fossil fuel industry and to end recruitment links with oil, gas and mining companies. They scored highly for their energy sources and carbon reduction after investing in renewable energy generated on campus over the past 10 years.

Cover photo: Ten universities had also decided to end recruitment links with environmentally destructive industries, the survey found. Photograph: Richard Baker/In Pictures/Getty Images