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Bournemouth Officially A Fairtrade University

 


Bournemouth University is celebrating after being awarded Fairtrade University Status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Bournemouth now becomes one of just 32 Fairtrade Universities and Colleges across the UK. The status confirms the University's commitment to promoting the consumption of Fairtrade products. All shops, cafés and refectories on both of the University's campuses now sell a wider selection of Fairtrade products and Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar are now served at internal meetings.

Fairtrade Bournemouth University is celebrating after being awarded Fairtrade University Status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

For Bournemouth, achieving Fairtrade Status is part of a University-wide strategy to ensure that students, graduates and staff develop as ‘global citizens' who understand sustainable development and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to challenge injustice and champion change in a global society.

“This is an exciting achievement,” says Christine Shiel, Head of Learning and Teaching for Bournemouth's Institute of Business and Law and a leading member of the University's Global Perspectives Group. “We cannot expect students to learn about global perspectives and develop as global citizens, unless the University is prepared to 'walk the talk' - Fairtrade status is a positive symbol of institutional commitment to sustainable development.  We need to ensure that it does not end there.”

To be awarded Fairtrade Status, Bournemouth University had to achieve five goals:

  • Approve an official Fair Trade Policy
  • Set up an institutional steering group
  • Commit to selling Fairtrade products in all University outlets
  • Commit to using Fairtrade products at internal meetings and events
  • Commit to campaigning for increased consumption

Various events and activities have taken place on campus to date, including events to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. The Fairtrade Mark is now highly visible in various places around the University but, as Shiel says, the work does not end there.

“Part of being awarded Fairtrade Status is making a commitment to an ongoing process of education about global issues and the inequalities of the trading process,” says Shiel. “A range of activities will be scheduled to continue to raise awareness.”

 

CONTACTS

Bournemouth University Press office:

press@bournemouth.ac.uk

Charles Elder; Tel: +44 (0) 1202 961032; Mob: (07768) 771870

Zoë Monk ; Tel: +44 (0) 1202 961033; Mob: (07738) 143100

 

News 15th August 2006

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