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.
Abertay University
A modern university with a long history and a clear sense of our distinctive mission, highly regarded for our academic performance in areas with genuine relevance and impact on society and the economy, and with a community of talented students and academics who make us the success we are.
