The University of Edinburgh has become one of 35 UK Universities to form the Defence Universities Alliance (DUA).
Announced this week, the group is part of a £182m Government investment in building “defence related skills” and “expanding opportunities.”
The University states that membership to the DUA is an opportunity for universities to “contribute their expertise to national security and resilience challenges, […] and help to ensure the UK maintains sovereign capabilities and technological leadership.”
The scheme aims to deepen connections between academia and government defence, allowing for increased innovation in national security matters.
According to the government, DUA will “support a pipeline of skilled graduates into exciting careers, including cyber security, robotics, AI, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.”
However, the scheme has drawn criticism for deepening the already controversial links between the University of Edinburgh and arms companies.
One student said: “It’s a bit worrying in the sense that it indicates that the UK is readying itself for conflict scenarios in the near future, and by making its defence sector more appealing to young people and graduates […] it’s trying to make the defence sector and its military younger and potentially more apt for combat.
“[The University of Edinburgh] being on that list is totally unsurprising given that they’re already investing a lot in arms companies and are close to the British military.”
Another student was more positive on the premise, commenting: “Research into defence is incredibly important and it’s positive to see a push for careers in this field.
“However, when the government funding the alliance and the universities supporting it have gained a reputation of censorship and criminalisation of protest, we must question to what extent the research produced will be biased and harmful”
Last year, the University of Edinburgh was named in a UN report as “among the most financially entangled institutions” in the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians.
Subsequently, this month has seen a wave of protests and walkouts at University graduation ceremonies, in which students demanded divestment from companies linked to the Israeli military and surveillance.
On joining the DUA, a University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “The University of Edinburgh regularly works with governments, industry and academic partners to advance research, innovation and skills in areas where the University is internationally recognised.
“All collaborations are conducted in line with the University’s established governance processes, legal obligations and commitment to delivering positive societal and economic impact, helping to ensure that the UK maintains sovereign capabilities and technological leadership.
“All research carried out at our University is underpinned by formal policies and a Code of Good Practice that ensures it is conducted to the highest standards of academic rigour and with ethical consideration and due diligence.”
Image by Cordelia Murray-Brown for The Student
