The University has published an updated Socially Responsible Investment Policy. The new policy was approved by Council (the University’s governing body) in October, following an in-depth consultation with staff and students.
What is the Socially Responsible Investment Policy?
The policy sets out the University’s socially responsible approach to its financial investments. For the purposes of the policy, investments are defined as the acquisition, management, and disposal of medium to long-term financial assets held to make a financial return. The policy is designed to support the University’s aim to invest in companies, organisations, and sectors that create positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes, consistent with our values of collaboration, courage, inclusion, integrity, kindness, and openness.
How was the policy created?
The development of the updated policy was overseen by a subgroup of Council, led by the Vice-Chair of Council, Tony Bullman. The group consisted of Council Members, including the Students’ Union Council Member, and senior University leaders. The review built on the existing policy, which had been sector-leading when first launched, and drew on best practice from across the sector. There was an extended process of engagement and consultation on the underlying principles with students and staff, including academics with relevant specialisms, during the first half of 2025. Groups and organisations that engaged in this process included representatives of the University of Sussex Students’ Union, the student Friends of Palestine Society, and the local University and College Union branch, amongst many other interested individual staff and students.
Reflecting on the consultation process, Students’ Union Council Member Lewis Wilson, said: “Developing the Socially Responsible Investment Policy was a challenging process, but it was worth every step. Seeing students’ voices genuinely influence policy that has such massive implications, especially the commitment not to invest in companies complicit in human rights abuses, showed that our community can live up to its values and deliver when called upon. The work continues but this is a definite step in the right direction and I feel really proud to say that the University actually listened to students and staff on what was best for the Sussex community.”
Professor Peter Newell, Professor of International Relations, said: “For me, the process towards curating this social investment policy was transparent and impressively inclusive and respectful of diverse student and staff views.”
The approach was also tested with investment professionals to ensure its operability. Read a full report on the consultation.
What is in the policy?
The policy is prefaced by a Statement of Principles on socially responsible investment which sets out the investment ambitions of the University, with the detail covered in the policy itself.
In summary, the University will:
- Invest in ways which promote and deliver the aims and objectives of our strategy, Sussex 2035: Creating progressive futures - flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world
- Be an active investor using a combination of positive and negative screening to invest in organisations who create positive ESG outcomes aligned to the United Nations Sustainability Goals
- Not invest in the following sectors and activities:
- companies that produce or finance illegal weapons and their components
- companies that are involved in, contribute to, profit from, or facilitate illegal activities including slavery, child labour, human rights or humanitarian law violations, occupation, apartheid or genocide, as determined by a competent court
- fossil fuels
- armaments and the defence industry
- gambling
- tobacco
- pornography
What is not within the scope of the policy?
Banking services are not covered by the policy. The Statement of Principles and Policy includes a clear statement that the University actively engages with all of its banking partners and works collaboratively in the higher education sector to establish cash products and services that align to our values, and to actively promote change in the banking sector. The University has long-term relationships with its banking partners due to the duration of loans and financing arrangements and it is important, therefore, to differentiate the University’s approach towards banking services.
Read the full policy for more information.