Demonstration by Extinction Rebellion on Campus
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion and Scientist Rebellion protested on the campus against the presence of Shell and ING during the Economic Business Weeks Tilburg (EBT) last week. During their protest, they painted texts on the glass walls of CUBE and poured green paint over the university logo at the selfie spot and the elevator shaft of the library on the footbridge. These markings were made with water-based paint and have largely been removed.
The protesters distributed flyers and made their message clear via a loudspeaker. They believe that the university should sever all ties with the fossil fuel industry and that ING and Shell should never have been invited. Furthermore, they accuse the university of greenwashing. The protest lasted for over an hour and proceeded relatively peacefully. The SP (Socialist Party) also protested on campus this morning, conveying a similar message to the Executive Board. All protesters left of their own accord.
Academic Freedom and Dialogue
Tilburg University acknowledges the concerns of some parties regarding the collaboration with the fossil fuel industry. From the principle of academic freedom and social and scientific responsibilities, we believe that the discussion about such collaborations should primarily take place at our university. We educate our students to think about the issues of today and tomorrow, with climate transition being a significant example. We encourage critical thinking at our university and appreciate it when students, staff, and others committed to sustainability continue to challenge us on this. We also encourage this critical attitude regarding companies where our students may work in the future.
Economic Business Weeks Tilburg
The goal of the Economic Business Weeks Tilburg is to connect students with potential employers. The event is organized by students, and the university has discussed with them the role of Shell and ING during these days. It has been agreed that Shell will present a case on a sustainability issue within their organization during the EBT. ING also highlights sustainability in their presentations. In this way, we encourage our students to make an active contribution to the sustainability transition. We see it as an opportunity for our alumni, as future employees of these companies, to bring their vision and knowledge of corporate social responsibility and corporate values into the corporate culture and contribute to its development, thereby increasing sensitivity to all sustainability goals.
Sustainability
Tilburg University is at the heart of society and is committed to contributing to the major societal challenges we face. Sustainability is a key focus for our university. We share concerns about the climate and, as a university, take responsibility to engage in our education, research, and operations to contribute to a more sustainable future. The energy transition is a major societal challenge and can only be addressed by joining forces as much as possible. Collaborations between the university, the business community, and societal organizations are essential to address the right issues and thus ensure a greater societal impact of scientific research. Among other things, to achieve a successful energy transition, we collaborate with many organizations so that the research truly contributes to a future with cleaner energy.
Demonstrations
Debate, discussion, and freedom of speech are core elements of the academic world. Tilburg University allows for demonstrations and protests, while it is important to ensure safety for everyone and that everyone treats each other with respect and empathy. Demonstrating is allowed as long as it does not disrupt the primary processes of research and education; in this regard, we engage in dialogue (depending on the situation). Occupation is not permitted.