The University of Edinburgh is constituted by the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858 to 1966. The University helped to update the Code of Conduct in 2019/20. Develop context-specific advice regarding taking action on modern slavery for people working in different parts of the world, to sit as part of a suite of Research Integrity resources. The University of Edinburgh today confirmed it is considering renaming the David Hume Tower due to the philosopher's links to slavery. We are now preparing to pilot the Electronics Watch contract conditions in an upcoming ICT procurement. Where it is necessary to hire agency workers or contractors, our staff are directed to specified, reliable agencies that have been vetted through the University’s rigorous procurement procedures and meet our imposed selection criteria regarding their employment policies and practices. Briefing papers and action plans summarising these category risks and opportunities have been produced. High School Yards. Basket . We will act ethically and with integrity in all our relationships, and use all reasonable endeavours to enforce effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our supply chains. It is made up of representatives from diverse units across the University, and is coordinated by the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability. We recognise that modern slavery is a significant global human rights issue and includes human trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced and bonded labour, some forms of child labour and domestic servitude. The project aims to improve the lives of workers and those impacted along different stages of the ICT supply chain. Supplier are required to a) comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and all other applicable laws regarding anti-slavery and human trafficking; b) maintain policies to ensure compliance; c) perform due diligence on their supply chains and include anti-slavery and human trafficking provisions in their supply contracts and; d) notify the University of any breaches and provide the University with annual compliance reports. University academics contributed to the book Criminality at Work, published in 2020, which includes chapters focusing on Modern Slavery legislation. The University provides various programmes and courses that specifically examine issues of modern slavery and human trafficking. In line with our ongoing commitment to Electronics Watch, a member of the University’s Procurement Office attended the Electronics Watch Annual Conference in December 2020. Research funders and collaborating partners are required to confirm equivalence with the University’s ethical commitments. The group will review features such as statues and street names in Edinburgh which commemorate those with close links to slavery. For example, funding could stem from profits from an organisation where modern slavery has occurred, or from an individual who has links to exploitative businesses. Edinburgh University Renames ‘Hume Tower’ Due to Racism, Accidentally Honors Pro-Slavery King George III The Hume Building will be temporarily renamed to … This is being monitored by finance transaction teams. The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability takes a ‘living labs’ approach to problem solving, which means using our own academic and student research capabilities to explore or resolve issues related to University practice. There was even ... Edinburgh University Press Books. The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the vulnerability of many groups to human trafficking and modern slavery; particularly women and migrant workers. SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a When issues are detected, APUC raises them with suppliers during contract management meetings. Courses you may be … This work will continue over the coming year. About Slavery and Forced Labour studies at University of Edinburgh Please visit the Slavery and Forced Labour studies webpage for further information. We have also assessed Modern Slavery risks in our PPE supply chains by checking our spend and catalogues for the presence of products produced by companies sanctioned by the United States government for labour and human rights violations. A spokesman for the Scottish university told MailOnline … We awarded 117 regulated public procurement contracts during this period for a value of £170million, with 67 of these won by SME contractors. In the wake of Covid-19, academics have written about, This year we maintained our collaboration  with ten partner organisations on an EU-funded three-year project entitled, The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability takes a ‘, Our research contracts reflect the University’s modern slavery approach. The university has now launched a wide-ranging and ambitious “reparative justice programme”. “Recognised body” which has been All suppliers engaged indirectly through new terms and conditions and self-declaration requirement. Each Strategy contains a sustainability section where upcoming high-priority procurements and risk mitigation actions are identified, including for modern slavery concerns. After an initial period of reading, students will conduct guided research in local archives on original topics related to relationship between Edinburgh University or Edinburgh as a city and slavery. Continue to benchmark the University's Modern Slavery Statement against the Ethical Trading Initiative Evaluation Framework. Research related to human rights in supply chains and the impact of UK Modern Slavery Act is taking place across the University. Develop further research collaborations related to modern slavery risks and solutions. Our commitment starts from protecting and respecting human rights and taking action to prevent slavery and human trafficking in all its forms. A research report on modern slavery and universities has been produced for the sector, and is available to download: We will act ethically and with integrity in all our relationships, and use all reasonable endeavours to take action directly and within our sphere of influence to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place. The University educates students from all over the world, and seeks to attract, develop, reward and retain the best staff for a world-class teaching and research institution. In 2020/2021, in addition to continuing the work outlined above, we will focus in particular on the following: Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability Additionally, given the global reach of our University, we recognise that there are potential risks of modern slavery related to our international activities, especially when located in high-risk countries. The University has contributed to and adopted the APUC Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct. This year, the University conducted research into labour issues in Indonesian electronics factories and reviewed guidance produced by Make ICT Fair partners on the responsible procurement of ICT equipment. University staff also attended events held by the Scottish Government Human Trafficking Team in 2019/20 to learn about national efforts to combat modern slavery and provide feedback on proposed legislation. He is speaking at an event organised by Edinburgh World Heritage on Thursday as part of Black History Month. Contemporary accounts of life in the plantations and socialconditions of slavery have survived in diaries and memoirs.Material includes: 1. Ironically, the university was at the forefront of the movement in the 19th century to abolish slavery. Examples of these offences include, but are not limited, to labour exploitation, domestic servitude, forced criminality and sexual exploitation. The statements are signed off by the Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee, Audit & Risk Committee, and University Court, and then published on the University website, linked from the footer of each web page. The University adheres to The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and implements its own Whistleblowing Code of Practice regarding concerns about potential corruption, fraud and other unlawful practices within the University. There is a risk that sources of potential funding could be linked to unethical or illegal activity, including exploitation (either directly to the prospective donor, or as an underlying source of funding for the donation). In 2014, the University became a founding member of, United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment, The University provides various programmes and courses that specifically examine issues of modern slavery and human trafficking. For the period 1st August 2019 to 31st July 2020. In this classic short introduction to one of the most important and controversial topics in American history, Peter J Parish investigates slavery from political, economic and social perspectives. This year, we updated the course content to include more information about how to spot the signs of exploitation and what steps should be taken if a person suspects that exploitation is taking place. The intense upsurge in global demand for certain products like PPE and ICT has increased risks to human rights in supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the presence of virus itself has impacted worker safety across the globe. After escaping slavery in 1838 by going to New York, he became a brilliant orator and tireless freedom fighter alongside members of his family. The University is organised into three colleges (College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine and College of Science & Engineering), a Finance Directorate and three professional services Groups (Corporate Services Group, Information Services Group and University Secretary’s Group). Many University of Edinburgh staff work internationally and some are based, or spend a significant amount of their time, working at University facilities overseas. 1:15pm - 1:40pm: Wikipedia and Women in STEM from Jess Wade; 1:40pm - 1:45pm Break; 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm: Wikipedia training from Ewan McAndrew. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a “Recognised body” which has been granted degree awarding powers. The Slavery, Abolition and the University of Glasgow report was co-authored by Prof Simon Newman and Dr Stephen Mullen, and examined the roles of university … A spokesman for the A large proportion of our spend is through frameworks established by collaborative consortia, particularly Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) and The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO). This included engaging a major supplier with a Covid-19-related risk assessment produced by Electronics Watch and the United Nations. At Queen Margaret University we are committed to protecting and respecting human rights and have a zero tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking in all its forms. The University accepts philanthropic donations and research funding from a wide range of sources. All staff in the Edinburgh Research Office (ERO) have been briefed on modern slavery risks. The University continues to maintain its longstanding commitment to fair trade and expand its approach to ethical supply chains. Due to revised strategy, further refine our supply chain modern slavery risk mapping, due diligence controls process and contract management. A spokesman for the Scottish university told MailOnline that it is working with staff and students to 'thoughtfully explore how we address these matters' after a former David Hume fellow called Hume 'an unashamed racist'. We incorporated modern slavery awareness into our 2020 Fairtrade Fortnight social media campaign and posted about modern slavery issues at other points throughout the year. University academics contributed to the book Criminality at Work, published in 2020, which includes chapters focusing on Modern Slavery legislation. By its very nature, modern slavery is hard to detect and is often hidden within seemingly legitimate industries. We have also assessed Modern Slavery risks in our PPE supply chains by checking our spend and catalogues for the presence of products produced by companies sanctioned by the United States government for labour and human rights violations. We have integrated modern slavery into the University’s terms and conditions for purchase contracts. PRI carries out an assessment of our integration of the principles into our fund management and we continued to receive an A rating in 2020. Modern Slavery Statements are drafted in August each year by the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, drawing on evidence gathered by the working group. The University shop also expanded its range of Fairtrade and Global Organic Textile Standard certified products. Our cafes now stock Tony’s Chocolonely confectionary (in addition to fairly traded rice, chocolate, coffee, sugar, bananas and tea). Where risks have been identified in relation to existing contracts, we work with APUC or with suppliers directly, to raise questions about human rights issues. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number The University’s Procurement Strategy outlines our ethical procurement approach and sets out our principles and practices for the acquisition of goods, services and building works. We were most recently awarded a. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number If a case of modern slavery were to be suspected on site, this would be fully investigated and appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against any member of staff found to have acted in breach of any relevant University policies. All of our fund managers are PRI signatories and share a commitment to assess ESG concerns (including human rights issues such as modern slavery) in our investments. The University's Modern Slavery Statement details what steps we already take to combat modern slavery and our relevant policies and procedures. Other relevant documents include our Conflict Minerals Policy (2016), Palm Oil Policy (2019), Fair Trade Policy (2004, updated 2013) and guidance on addressing ‘fair work’ practices in procurements. The Universities (Scotland) Acts make specific provision for three major bodies in the Governance of the University: Court, Senate and General Council. Develop an Anti-Slavery Policy clarifying responsibilities and accountabilities, setting out expectations for staff, students and other stakeholders, a process for raising concerns or grievances about policy violations and an explanation of how reports will be addressed. The Universities (Scotland) Acts make specific provision for three major bodies in the Governance of the University: Court, Senate and General Council. Since 1776 people have pondered the ethical and moral dilemma posed by the fact that Jefferson, who declared “all men are created equal” owned 600 human beings as slaves during his lifetime. High risk imported goods include food such as fish and seafood from Asia, cocoa farmed in parts of West Africa, sugar cane grown in the Caribbean, rice produced in India and Myanmar, construction materials including stone from India and China, garments produced in South America and Asia, electronics manufactured in Asia and laboratory equipment including gloves and surgical instruments. We have devised Key Performance Indicators to measure our progress on modern slavery: # suppliers engaged with directly on modern slavery (email, phone, or face to face). Implement the new version of the Sustain Code of Conduct in University procurements. The University’s Strategy 2030 sets out our vision to make the world a better place. Following a planned review of due diligence procedures this year, the University established an Income Due Diligence Group (IDDG). This year we expanded the number of fairly traded product lines stocked in University outlets. These commitments help us to support social responsibility both globally and locally. All purchase contracts now include modern slavery requirements. As signatories of the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment, now known as PRI, we integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into investment and ownership decisions. Our procurement spend over the 2019/20 financial year was £251million, with thousands of unique suppliers. This year our Modern Slavery Awareness course was added to the ERO’s list of, Research Integrity trainings for University researchers, As a place of learning, we recognise our responsibility to raise awareness of the issue of modern slavery, and to train some groups specifically on modern slavery risks and best practices. Non-University contracted workers that regularly work onsite at the University are expected to be paid the UK living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, and the University evaluates suppliers’ approach to Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wage, in line with statutory guidance. The University of Edinburgh will rename a tower in response to charges that philosopher David Hume endorsed racism. University of Edinburgh researchers continue to participate in the Consortium of Anti-Trafficking Research in Scotland (CATRIS). In the UK, relevant sectors that have a higher risk of modern slavery include hospitality, cleaning services, construction sites, farms and food processing facilities. The University has a Purchase Order Policy to ensure that staff only make purchases, other than small expenses, using established processes. This collaborative partnership, created at the University of St. Andrews, brings together leading Scottish academics to identify opportunities for collaboration and address a perceived research-policy-practice gap in Scotland. In March 2020, like others around the world, we paused travel and most of our staff and students switched to working and studying remotely while we prepared for hybrid (blending remote and in-person) teaching in Semester 1 of 2020/21. The group’s activities include monitoring the inclusion of modern slavery requirements in different aspects of University operations, promoting staff training on modern slavery, and developing proposals for research collaborations. The University of Edinburgh today confirmed it is considering renaming the David Hume Tower due to the philosopher's links to slavery. There are full references to thesecollections in the thematic list on slavery available in the Special Collections Reading Room. # suppliers providing information on modern slavery efforts on Sustain supplier database, 39 published reports, 27 in progress, 107 invited in total (across the sector), # known reported modern slavery cases in our direct areas of influence, # staff trained on modern slavery risks and best practice (online or face to face courses). The intense upsurge in global demand for certain products like PPE and ICT has increased risks to human rights in supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the presence of virus itself has impacted worker safety across the globe. This chapter introduces the problems of defining slavery, and asks what makes a slave a slave? The University of Edinburgh is constituted by the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858 to 1966. Over the 2019/20 academic year, the University comprised roughly 15,448 staff and 44,510 students, with an annual turnover of £1,120.1million. Suppliers provide details of the factories in which the ICT equipment we buy are produced, and Electronics Watch works with civil society organisations in the countries where the factories are located to monitor working conditions. The purpose of this group will be to ensure that all streams of funding whose source raises potential red flags in relation to a range of ethical issues, including modern slavery, are subject to enhanced scrutiny. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our relationships, and using all reasonable endeavours to take action within our direct operations and wider sphere of influence to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place. The Group will review features such as statues and street names in Edinburgh which commemorate those with close links to slavery. Social Responsibility and Sustainability home, ‘How can universities contribute to tackling modern slavery?’ September 2016, Freedom of information publication scheme, The Scottish Government’s information leaflet on. A VIRTUAL tour exploring Edinburgh’s “hidden” links to slavery through poetry is one of the events kicking off this year’s Book Week Scotland. Looking at pivotal periods and events, this course will survey the experience of African Americans in ‘the land of the free’, from the arrival of the first Africans in 1619 to … In 2014, the University became a founding member of Electronics Watch, an organisation that works to monitor working conditions in factories producing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods bought by European public sector members. Any breach of these obligations is specifically deemed a material breach of contract, which would entitle the University to terminate such contract with immediate effect where appropriate. We also link to publicly available modern slavery resources and online courses, In line with our ongoing commitment to Electronics Watch, a member of the University’s Procurement Office attended the Electronics Watch Annual Conference in December 2020. It is made up of representatives from diverse units across the University, and is coordinated by the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability. This year we maintained our collaboration  with ten partner organisations on an EU-funded three-year project entitled Make ICT Fair, now in its final year. Over the 2019/20 academic year, the University comprised roughly 15,448 staff and 44,510 students, with an annual turnover of, Assessing modern slavery risks in our supply chains and other areas, We conduct research and use the Scottish Government’s, Our policies and practices for the prevention and mitigation of human trafficking and modern slavery, including steps taken in 2019/20, We have integrated modern slavery into the University’s, The University has contributed to and adopted the, APUC Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct, The University continues to maintain its longstanding commitment to fair trade and expand its approach to ethical supply chains. We conduct research and use the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Procurement Tools to assess sustainability risks, including modern slavery, in prioritised procurement categories (currently travel services, electronics, food and catering, laboratory supplies and building supplies). 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