University of Exeter re-pledged commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

The University of Exeter community has marked the courage and sacrifices of those serving in the military and their families through a re-commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Lisa Roberts was joined by serving members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, and University veterans, reservists and service families and regional partners during a special event to mark the pledge.

Professor Roberts was also joined by two current undergraduates who have parents on active service.

Commodore Tristram Kirkwood, the Naval Regional Commander for Wales, Western England and the Channel Islands, an Exeter Alumnus, co-signed the covenant. Commodore Kirkwood has had an illustrious career in the Royal Navy as a pilot and a surface warfare officer, including commanding HMS Northumberland.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise to ensure those who serve or who have served in the HM armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives. 

The University of Exeter has a longstanding association with the Armed Forces, and our teaching and research on defence and security continues to make a difference to the security and resilience of the UK, and to the effectiveness of the military.

Professor Roberts said: “I hope that, by re-pledging our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the entire UK military community can count the University of Exeter as a partner and a friend.  At Exeter we recognise the immense value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans, military families and the cadets bring to our community and to society, and we are proud to support those who have served, and we are incredibly grateful for their sacrifices.

 “We also know there are families – partners and children – making sacrifices every day.  We see our commitment to service personnel and their families as a solemn duty, and one we take very seriously.  This is why we are delighted to renew our commitment and make our promise to ensure that all who serve or have served are treated with respect and fairness.” 

The signing of the covenant demonstrates the University of Exeter’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community. This includes supporting employees who are members of the Reserve Forces, offering flexible annual leave for partners of service personnel and promoting careers in the Armed Forces as part of the University’s student employability initiatives.

The University’s Officer Training Corps and the Devon University Royal Navy Unit provide valuable skills and experience to students and support many to join the Armed Forces after graduation. Commander Tony Gawthorpe, Deputy Commandant RMAS UOTC, attended the event to represent the Exeter Officer’s Training Corps.

In 2024 the University of Exeter was awarded the prestigious Gold award in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises those employers who have an ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces community.

The University of Exeter’s Armed Forces Covenant Advocacy Group runs a staff and student network welcoming and supporting all those connected to the Armed Forces community.

The University of Exeter’s Defence, Security and Resilience Network is made up of more than 200 academics who collaborate with industry, other Universities and the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office and the Home Office in support of national security and global responsibilities.

The Centre for the Public Understanding of Defence and Security is an internal think tank that will foster public debate about national and international security, changing public perception of the vital role of our Armed Forces in protecting our values and our way of life.

Anyone seeking support or to become involved in the University of Exeter’s Armed Forces Covenant work should contact armedforcescovenant@exeter.ac.uk