Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department plans to increase engagement with universities where no single service unit exists.

The Royal Navy regularly reviews its structure to ensure that the Service is optimised to face the demands of the 21st century, while being appropriately balanced to achieve operational requirements, and therefore continues to consider the need to establish new University Royal Navy Units when it is able.

More widely, the Royal Navy also has an on-going engagement plan with UK Universities by the Captain of Naval Recruitment organisation with initiatives such as the Undergraduate Leadership Programme which can provide the opportunity for undergraduates to apply for a six-week placement with the Royal Navy. This forms part of a wider recruitment engagement which aims to increase awareness of the role of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in support of British interests.

The Army has a total of 15 University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) and two Officer Training Regiments (OTRs), which, although geographically named, cover a number of affiliated universities located across the whole UK. All UOTCs and OTRs welcome enquiries from individuals from any university. Additionally, wider engagement is conducted within universities, by mutual agreement, by the Army’s specialist engagement teams.

The Royal Air Force currently has 15 University Air Squadrons (UAS) which incorporate a number of affiliated universities located across a wide catchment area in the UK to ensure maximum visibility and coverage. The RAF welcomes enquiries from individuals or universities wishing to join their local UAS. Additionally, the Royal Air Force is engaged in ongoing focussed engineering recruitment with 37 universities throughout the country to increase awareness of the available opportunities.

The four Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Squadrons are geographically dispersed (Newcastle, Loughborough, Birmingham and Southampton) and partnerships extend to seven further universities.