Knowledge exchange strengths highlighted in latest KEF

The results of the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) show the strengths of the University of Reading in sharing knowledge for the benefit of the wider economy and society. 

 

In the latest KEF results, published on 27 September, Reading scored particularly highly in the ‘Working with business’ and 'Continuing professional development and graduate-start-ups’ categories.

 

The KEF, now in its third year, is a Research England-run exercise published annually to demonstrate the range of valuable activities universities conduct with external partners across seven ‘perspectives’. These include working with partners ranging from big businesses to small local firms, local growth, public and community engagement, and how universities commercialise their research. 

 

The University of Reading showed ‘very high engagement’ in the ‘Working with business’ perspective, which looks at income through contract research, consultancy, facilities use and from innovate UK. 

 

The University also showed ‘very high engagement’ in the ‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and graduate start-ups’ perspective, which looks at income through the provision of CPD and continuing education, and the number of graduate start-ups. Reading has a wide range of Executive Education programmes, including courses on leadership, strategic management, organisational change and more, delivered by Henley Business School.

 

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Reading, said:

 

“The University of Reading has a global outlook but also works to encourage local economic growth in the Thames Valley. Engaging with the world outside our campus remains one of our key priorities.

 

“We not only have strong existing partnerships with businesses, governments and organisations, but are building exciting new relationships. Our work with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, British Museum, Natural History Museum, and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust are helping to broaden the impact of University of Reading’s activity.”

 

The also University showed ‘high engagement’ in the ‘Research partnerships’ and ‘Working with the public and third sector’ perspectives.

 

The full results of the KEF, including a breakdown of Reading’s results, can be found online.