Cambridge University's Judge Business School is seeking to provide leadership development and innovation management services to Saudi Arabia's defence ministry, despite concerns over the kingdom's human rights record and climate stance. The Guardian has learned that the university's leadership approved a proposal for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the ministry, following an initial introduction by the UK's Ministry of Defence.
Controversial Collaboration
Senior academics have described the proposal as horrifying and a betrayal of Cambridge's commitments to freedom of expression. Documents seen by the Guardian state that the agreement would set preliminary goals for collaborations in executive education, innovation management, leadership development, and healthcare administration, working exclusively with the civilian administration of the Saudi defence ministry.
University's Response
The university's press office declined to comment, while a spokesperson for the business school said no such MoU has been signed. However, Judge Business School officials told Cambridge's committee on benefactions and external and legal affairs that they were requesting permission to enter into an MoU with the ministry. The committee, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, approved the request by a majority vote in January, stating that an agreement would be acceptable in principle but requiring consultation on individual contracts.
Concerns Raised
Confidential minutes reveal that committee members expressed concerns over Saudi Arabia's record on human rights and climate change, as well as the ability to maintain staff's academic freedoms. A senior academic on Cambridge's university council called the proposal horrifying, accusing the university of selling out its principles to a regime that arbitrarily imprisons and murders those who dissent. The academic also questioned the safety of academics in a country that suppresses freedom of thought.
Financial Aspects
UK universities regularly sell consultancy and training to foreign governments, with contracts worth millions. The Judge Business School charges £98,000 for an executive MBA and £107,000 for a global executive MBA. The business school's director of alumni relations, David Whitaker, told the committee that the proposal aligned with the university's mission to benefit society through education and with UK government strategy.
Mitigations and Opposition
The committee was told that strong mitigations were in place, including a civilian-only scope and potential contracting with the Saudi Institute of Public Administration rather than the defence ministry directly. Some advocates claimed the deal offered an opportunity to effect positive change within the Saudi government. However, student representative Darragh O'Reilly warned that cutting a deal with a foreign military was a serious error of judgment, and expressed concern that the university's governance structures were collapsing.
