Responses From the People's Assembly on 'What Would a University Fit for Purpose Look Like, in a Time of Climate and Nature Crisis?'

Abstract

At the start of 2024, the Falmouth and Exeter Student Union (SU) passed a motion declaring a Climate and Nature Emergency, following similar declarations by the University of Exeter and Falmouth University in 2019. In addition to holding the universities to account on their commitments, the SU resolved to promote awareness of environmental justice and the colonial roots of the climate and nature crisis, support students’ health and wellbeing, act in solidarity with students engaged in nonviolent climate action, and encourage greater connections with the local community.

The SU also resolved to create a space and hold regular events to give students a voice on the climate and nature crisis and related issues, working to platform their ideas, opinions and worries in a participatory democratic manner.

In line with the above resolution, students, SU officers, and staff from Exeter and Falmouth universities, held a people’s assembly on the 24^th April 2024 to bring people together in an inclusive conversation on “What would a university fit for purpose look like, in a time of climate and nature crisis?”

The people’s assembly was organised by the community of people attending the open Ecological Citizenship meetings on the Penryn Campus. It was advertised openly, and 35 people attended.

This report details the collective vision of this group of people, in response to the questions “Where do you think change is needed? And why?”, and “What are the next actions to take?”. The group’s key recommendations are for:

1. Greater transparency and more democratic processes across the university

2. More local community engagement

3. Increasing connections to the natural environment - reprioritising the natural world.

Much thanks is owed to the people’s assembly organisers and facilitators for leading this process.