The OU has underlined its commitment to the Armed Forces, pledging to continue supporting servicemen and women with access to flexible higher education.
The university has a long-standing relationship with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, with 2,000 serving members currently OU students. The university supports members of the Armed Forces into Higher Education, recognises the value of military skills and offers a stepping stone to a new careers post-service.
The Open University’s Secretary Keith Zimmerman confirmed this ongoing commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant with Mark Lancaster TD MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary and Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans. The signing was held at the annual Partnering with Defence: Employer Conference 2016 in London today (March 16).
Mark Lancaster said: “The commitments made today by The Open University in support of the Armed Forces community are hugely appreciated. They recognise the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, and the value of military skills in the workplace.
By helping create employment for service leavers, offering flexibility to the reservists they employ and opportunities for accessible higher education to those in service, The Open University is championing our Armed Forces in the education field. We are truly grateful for their positive approach.
The Open University’s Secretary, Keith Zimmerman, said: “The OU has a long and proud association with the Armed Forces, from offering serving personnel the opportunity to study while on tour, to ensuring veterans have the skills they need to take into the workplace once they leave the forces.
“Signing the Covenant gives us the chance to celebrate our work to date and paves the way for closer collaboration in future.”
