Divestment Campaign

The branch announced the launch of The Open University (OU) Divestment campaign on 27th July. The campaign - and petition - call on the OU to divest from all funds complicit with Israel and the arms industry and remove arms companies (such as BAE Systems) from careers recruitment events. The campaign builds on the demands of an OU UCU motion passed on April 30th and has been coordinated by OU UCU, the OU Palestine Solidarity Group and the OU Friends of Palestine.
 
According to information provided to the branch, as of March 2024 The Open University (OU) held £91.4 Million in an investment fund that (according to January's accounts) holds 17.78% of its portfolio in companies complicit in the occupation, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people. This is equivalent to £16,250,920 of the OU’s known investments.
 
The campaign holds that such investments are incompatible with the institution's mission to promote social justice and invite staff, students, alumni and supporters to join their call on The Open University to divest from Israel and the arms industry by signing the petition and promoting the campaign. 
 
The campaign’s petition can be signed here:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/we-call-on-the-open-university-to-divest-from-israel-and-the-arms-industry 
 
The campaign intend to host an online encampment with events over the summer. Sign the petition or follow the campaign on social media for more information and updates:  
Twitter/X: @OUDivest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561910897582