CARDIFF, Wales, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Education and humanitarian support underpin new Military Covenant

Soldiers, sailors and airmen will be the first in the UK to benefit from a major agreement with the UK's newest major university.  A Military Community Covenant has been signed today (Monday 22 April) between the Armed Forces in Wales and the University of South Wales.

Under the covenant agreement, the University will support service personnel with a Forces Champion to provide advice and guidance on their educational future when they leave the forces.

As well as providing specialist support to the forces' training for disaster relief and medical services, the University will build on its track record as an employer to support its staff who serve in the reserve forces.  Recent deployments by staff have included Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The newly-formed University of South Wales has become the first Higher Education Institution in the UK to sign an Armed Forces Covenant of this kind. With over 33,000 students from 122 countries, offering almost 600 programmes of study and campuses in Newport, Cardiff and the valleys, the University is uniquely placed to support defence personnel in the cities and valleys of its region.

Colonel Kevin Davies, Deputy Commander of the Army's 160 Wales Brigade, is a Professor at the University and Chair of the Military Education Committee of the Combined Universities of Wales.  He said:

"This is a truly innovative approach. It means that soldiers, sailors and airmen who are serving, retired, or at the critically important time of transition will be supported to find education and training opportunities to enhance their future. I am sure other Universities will wish to follow this example and I urge them to do so."

Professor Julie Lydon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Wales, said:

"As a major UK university we welcome this partnership with the armed forces.  The Armed Forces play a major role in our region and across the country as an employer.  As a University we are committed to supporting service personnel and our own students and staff in making the most of their individual potential. Our research and training capability, particularly in medical services and disaster relief, support the forces in their vital humanitarian role.

"The breadth and depth of the  educational opportunities we offer, together with our partnership with further education, means that service personnel and their families will have the widest possible range of options from access, vocational, and introductory courses through to diploma, bachelors, masters, and doctoral studies."

Contact:

Alex Harden, +44-08455-760603

SOURCE University of South Wales