Here is Ravensbourne University’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Does your HE establishment have a policy on the use of fur?

A: This is covered by our ethical policy;

Section 1 General Ethical Principles and Procedures

 1.1 The ethical standards which apply to academic activities arise from the basic principle that such activities should not include content or practices that might reasonably be judged to be unethical.  Academic activity carried out by staff and students2 must be carried out within the law and through the application of policies, procedures and guidelines as may be in place at any time.  The ethical framework is an overarching concept which ensures that staff and students must consider the ethical issues arising from their academic activity in regard to, but not limited to, the following:

 

• the display of work which may not be suitable for all audiences, • the content of written submissions or digital projects which should not offend the reader,  • the use of materials considered to be ethically unacceptable such as fur or other animal products, • the use of models, actors (either professional or amateur), • the use of survey data, • the use of personal information even within the restrictions of the Data Protection Act,  • the use of materials considered hazardous even within the restrictions of Health and Safety at Work Act.

Q: Does real fur feature in any of your fashion or design courses, and if so, in what way?

A: No

Q: What financial support, including sponsored competitions do you receive from the fur industry?

A: None

Q: Does your HE establishment allow or facilitate the fur industry to promote design competitions, summer schools, sponsorships, internships, or scholarships?

A: None of the above

 

We congratulate this university on its strong ethical stance.