Kingston University named founding member of Defence Universities Alliance

Kingston University has been selected as one of 35 founding members of the newly formed Defence Universities Alliance (DUA), a strategic national partnership launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to strengthen research, develop critical skills and build the highly skilled workforce needed to support the UK’s future defence capability.

The flagship alliance, which brings together defence and academia, is a partnership between 35 UK universities, the MOD, the UK Armed Forces, the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security and the wider defence sector. It aims to help drive cutting-edge research and ensure young people leave university ready for work – bridging the gap between study and employment.

Chosen from almost 100 applicants across the UK, Kingston University is the only member of the University Alliance group selected to be a founding member of the DUA. Membership recognises the institution’s strengths in education, research, innovation and engagement with industry and society. 

The University will help support a pipeline of skilled graduates into exciting careers, including cyber security, robotics, AI, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing and beyond – enhancing student employability while raising awareness and access to careers in defence and national security.

The alliance will strengthen partnerships with Kingston University and the defence industry, expanding opportunities for collaborative research and innovation. It will also increase possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the engineering, computing, business, social sciences, design, health and policy disciplines to address global security challenges.

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment and Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Provost at Kingston University Professor Amir Alani said being selected to be a founding member of the DUA was a significant achievement and a testament to the strength of the University’s academic community. “The application process presented an opportunity to showcase the breadth of our expertise, our culture of innovation and our commitment to addressing global challenges through education and research,” he said.

“As a founding member, we have the privilege not only of participating in the Alliance, but also of helping to shape its future direction. I am excited about the opportunities this will create for our students, researchers and partners, enabling Kingston University to contribute even more strongly to the development of skills, knowledge and innovation that support national resilience, economic growth and societal benefit.”

The DUA is part of the Government’s £182 million defence skills package, strengthening the UK’s talent pipeline, supporting economic growth and ensuring every region benefits from the MOD’s £298 billion defence investment over the next four years.