Abertay University signs Armed Forces Covenant

Abertay University signs Armed Forces Covenant

Abertay University has signed the UK Armed Forces Covenant as a pledge to support the country’s servicemen and women wherever and however it can. The covenant commits organisations that sign it to ensure that no member of the armed forces should suffer any disadvantage as a result of their service. Professor Nigel Seaton, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, signed the covenant at a passing-out parade for the Tayforth University Officer Training Corp (UOTC) at Barry Buddon Camp near Carnoustie. The passing out parade included Abertay students from Dundee, North Berwick and Kelso. The signing was witnessed by Major General Nick Ashmore OBE, the Army’s senior officer in Scotland, who also took the salute at the parade. Abertay is the first university in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in its new form, which was only introduced this month. Eight other UK universities are signatories to the covenant in its earlier form. Professor Seaton said: “The covenant sets out the obligations that the UK owes to the members of its armed forces, who sacrifice some civilian freedoms and face danger and the risk of injury and death while in service. “Abertay is proud to sign up to the covenant to acknowledge these sacrifices and to pledge to do what it can to support members of the armed forces within the University community.” Abertay students make up almost half of Tayforth UOTC’s B Squadron, which also includes students from the University of Dundee. The rest of Tayforth UOTC includes students from the universities of St Andrews and Stirling. ENDS For media enquiries please contact Kevin Coe (Media and Communications Director) T: 01382 308452 M: 07850 904110 E: k.coe@abertay.ac.uk Notes for Editors The Armed Forces Covenant was first introduced in 2011. More than 700 companies, organisations, local authorities and NHS bodies have signed up since then. Tayforth UOTC traces its origins to the formation of a student volunteer unit in 1882 at the University of St Andrews. It was based at what was then University College in Dundee, which later became the University of Dundee in 1967. Students from Stirling University joined the unit from 1968 onwards, and Abertay students became eligible to join in 1994. 

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