A Nottingham university has released a statement after receiving criticism over its partnership with a multinational defence company.
It comes after an officer at the University of Nottingham's student union has voiced his anger on Twitter about the collaboration with BAE Systems, a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company.
Chris Taylor, who has been a student at the university before becoming an education officer, said: "Having these partnerships means basically that the university is saying that they're okay with the kind of products that BAE Systems manufacturers, and the students should be okay with it too.
"And they're encouraging students to sort of get involved in these companies and sort of almost encouraging them to start thinking about careers - in defence and arms manufacturing."
The 22-year-old told Nottinghamshire Live: "It just made me really angry and disappointed when I saw their announcement about their continuation of the partnership.
"And defence is a metaphor really - BAE Systems sold 15 billion pounds worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia during their assault on Yemen, which is something that the British government supposedly opposed.
"Having these companies involved in my university is really quite upsetting to see."
Mr Taylor also said that he was now in the "early stages" of organising a student campaign against the partnership.
He added: "All the students that I've spoken to are 100 percent on my side.
"We've known about it for a while, but this sort of announcement that I noticed about the strategic plan should kick off a conversation with students and myself around trying to raise awareness of this complicity."
Addressing the concerns over the collaboration with BAE Systems, a University of Nottingham spokesperson said: "The University of Nottingham is the sixth UK university to enter into a strategic partnership with BAE Systems, which will ensure the best of UK research in manufacturing processes, production line innovations and sustainable energy technologies, can play a vital role in the security of the nation.
"It will also offer opportunities for our students to gain valuable industrial experience to enhance and develop their future careers.
"Research arrangements with all industrial partners are constructed fully in line with UK government legislation.
"All academic staff follow rigorous research security, integrity and ethical procedures, and are bound by our own research code of conduct."
A spokesperson for BAE Systems aadded: “As a world leader in advanced engineering and technology, BAE Systems plays a vital role in creating opportunities for young people across the country, helping to address the critical skills gap and support the UK’s economic recovery.
"We invest in a diverse portfolio of programmes aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers and our strategic university partnerships provide opportunities for collaborative research and development projects, as well as giving students vital industrial experience.”
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