University’s Contribution to Regional Development Highlighted in Latest National Assessment

The University of Lincoln, UK, continues to play an important role in driving regional development, as evidenced by its performance in the latest national Knowledge Exchange Framework assessment (KEF3).

KEF3, the latest iteration of the national assessment prepared by Research England, showcases the diverse ways in which universities in England engage with society and the economy on local, national, and international levels.

The framework assesses knowledge exchange activities across seven key perspectives, reflecting the valuable and diverse ways universities collaborate with external stakeholders: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Graduate Start-ups; Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation; Local Growth and Regeneration; Public and Community Engagement; Research Partnerships; Working with Business; and, Working with the Public and Third Sector. The KEF also aims to compare universities on a like-for-like basis, grouping similar institutions into ‘clusters’.

In the context of its ‘cluster’ of similar universities, the University of Lincoln has excelled across various measures. Across five of the seven perspectives the University’s engagement has been assessed as high or very high. These are Local Growth and Regeneration; Public and Community Engagement; Working with Business; Working with the Public and Third Sector; and, CPD and Graduate Start-ups.

These results in KEF3 build upon the University’s success in the previous Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF2) and demonstrate the University’s ongoing efforts to boost local economies, support growth, foster collaborations, and nurture talent.

Professor Andrew Hunter, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said: “The latest national Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) outcomes show once again the positive and lasting impact that our research, innovation, and community engagement can have in translating research into positive impacts on communities, businesses and society. The diverse breadth of work we undertake as an institution, much of it in close collaboration with partners, is clearly illustrated and the latest data show the far-reaching value that has.”

Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in universities, stating: “Across the breadth of higher education, institutions make rich and diverse contributions to the economy and society through their knowledge exchange activities. The KEF continues to be a powerful tool to describe the breadth of scope of knowledge exchange.”

For more information about the Knowledge Exchange Framework and detailed results, please visit https://kef.ac.uk/