What better way to mark national Fairtrade Fortnight - a time for celebration and raising awareness of trade issues - than to announce that the University of Glasgow has been awarded Fairtrade accreditation. The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Liz Cameron, today shared a congratulatory cuppa with the University's Principal, Sir Muir Russell, and discussed the City of Glasgow's bid to become a fair trade city by 2006.

The commitment to achieving Fairtrade status has come from staff, students and townsfolk, who worked hard to ensure that the University was able to fulfil the five goals set down by the Fairtrade Foundation, and achieve accreditation. This includes the establishment of a Fairtrade policy by both the Student Union and the University authorities.

The University is a major consumer of food and drinks, and it will make a huge difference that Fairtrade foods are served at all meetings hosted by the University and the Student Union, and are served in all University and management offices.

Aileen McInnes, Director of Hospitality Services, and a member of the Fairtrade working group, said: 'Fairtrade foods have been made available for sale in all campus shops and are used in all cafes/restaurants/bars on campus. Where this is not possible yet, there is a commitment to begin to use Fairtrade foods in these outlets as soon it becomes possible to do so. In the past year, we have served 296,000 cups of Fairtrade coffee and tea, and since January 2005 the volume has increased by approximately 3%. '

Even though a wide range of Fairtrade products are already available and prominently displayed throughout the university, accreditation is dependent upon a continuing commitment to campaign for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus.

Raising a cup of Fairtrade coffee in a congratulatory toast, the Principal of the University, Sir Muir Russell, said: 'I am delighted that students, staff and friends of the University worked together to achieve Fairtrade status, underlining the University's commitment to principles of fairness and equality. We are dedicated to spreading the principles of fair trade throughout the University, wherever possible, and we fully support the bid by Glasgow City to become Scotland's first accredited Fair Trade City.'

Glasgow is only the second university in Scotland to achieve Fairtrade status. In March 2004, the University of Edinburgh became the first 'Fairtrade University' in Scotland.

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First published: 9 March 2005