Armed forces make over 300 visits to UK universities in two years

Students speak out against campus recruitment by the army, air force and navy

British universities have opened their doors to allow the armed forces to make 341 visits to recruit students in two years.

In response to a Freedom of Information request by the Guardian, the Ministry of Defence reveals the extent to which the armed forces is focusing on universities to enlist students to the army, air force and navy.

Its figures show Birmingham has welcomed more recruiters than any other university, with 20 visits since the start of last year. Leeds and Leicester follow, with 17 and 16 recruitment visits respectively.

The number of events went up last year from 144 visits to recruit and promote in 2012 to 197 visits in 2013.

Several students unions have taken a stand against military recruitment on campus. A number of universities, including Stirling, the University of London and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), were not visited at all by the armed forces in a recruitment or promotional capacity.

Blane Abercrombie, president of the UWS students union, which is one of several to ban enlistment on campus, describes the recruitment drive as “ridiculous”.

“It’s preying on vulnerable students and can make international students feel unsafe. University campus is a place for learning, not for being signed up to go to war. We’ve got a duty as student unions to make sure our students feel safe on campus.”

This year, Manchester University’s students union followed suit and turned away a Royal Navy unit wishing to recruit on campus during freshers week, saying: “Welcome week is not the appropriate time for recruitment to the armed forces.

“We feel that their presence may make the campus seem unwelcoming to some new and existing students.”

Some argue that the presence of armed forces on campuses is a form of “exploitation”.

George Iordanou, a doctoral researcher in political theory at the University of Warwick, says: “Students are vulnerable because of the low chances of finding employment on graduating, the student loan bubble and increased fees.

“The army are not the problem, but universities shouldn’t be making the political decision of allowing them to be on campuses. It’s not that they shouldn’t have access to students, but that market should happen outside university.”

Others feel military organisations are disproportionately represented at university careers fairs. Holly-Rae Smith, universities network co-ordinator for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, says: “The more universities outsource their funding, the more enticing it is to get arms companies and the armed forces to come in and fill the gaps.

“A lot of universities have a disproportionate amount of companies who can afford to be there. Some recruitment fairs cost £600 a table, so it prices out smaller local firms.”

However, many people are strongly against banning the military from campus. The ban at Manchester University sparked an online petition, reaching 531 supporting votes at the time of writing.

It reads: “[These organisations] provide members with an understanding of military experience; and while some go on to sign up …read more