Cambridge University Council to Address Endowment Fund Links to Arms Investments Following Student Protests
Cambridge University Council will review a report on its £4.2 billion endowment fund's ties to arms manufacturers following student protests advocating for divestment from Israeli companies. While the university claims no direct arms investments, it admits that around 1.7% of its portfolio is in the aerospace and defense sector. A report has recommended divesting from companies producing illegal weapons under UK law, as King's College Cambridge pledges to exclude investments in companies engaged in illegal or unethical activities by 2025.
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Cambridge academics have accused the university of lacking transparency about its £4.2bn endowment fund and its connections to arms manufacturers. The University Council is set to meet to review a report on these investments, which came under scrutiny after students protested in 2024, demanding divestment from Israeli companies.
While the University of Cambridge Investment Management Limited (UCIM) stated it has no direct arms investments, it acknowledged that approximately 1.7% of its portfolio is in the aerospace and defence sector without disclosing specific companies. A report from a year-long review recommended that the endowment fund divest from companies producing illegal weapons under UK law. King's College Cambridge has committed to excluding investments in companies involved in activities deemed illegal or contrary to international norms by the end of 2025, amid growing calls for transparency and ethical investment.
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