University of Leicester celebrates Knowledge Exchange Framework results

The University of Leicester is celebrating its performance in the second iteration of the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). The KEF demonstrates the range of activities universities have with external, non-academic partners across seven perspectives, and allows comparisons across universities.

The University of Leicester has been identified as having ‘very high engagement’ compared to the sector in three of the seven perspectives: 

• local growth and regeneration; 
• working with the public and third sector; 
• IP and commercialisation. 

For all of these areas the University sits in the top 20% of HE providers in the country and exceeds the average for universities of its size and type (its cluster). 

Leicester also has ‘high engagement’ in a further three perspectives: 

• research partnerships; 
• working with business; 
• CPD and graduate start-ups. 

For all of these areas it sits in the top 40% of HE providers in the country. 

Knowledge exchange with non-academic partners is a crucial part of the University’s strategy, Citizens of Change. This includes strengthening our external engagement and partnerships, through co-creating and collaborating with partners through our research, including our new Research Institutes and Centres, which contribute to a range of world-changing impacts. It also drives knowledge exchange and social, economic and health benefits through major initiatives such as Space Park Leicester, the Biomedical Research Centre, and our planned Heritage Hub. 

Professor Phil Baker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise, said:

“We are delighted to see the University of Leicester’s diverse and extensive knowledge exchange activities recognised in these new KEF results. I am pleased to see our performance compares very well against our peers and the wider sector. The KEF allows us to better understand our strengths and is further evidence of the extent of our work with non-academic partners, as we realise our ambitions to drive world-changing research.”

David Sweeney CBE, Executive Chair of Research England, said:

“Knowledge exchange is integral to the mission and purpose of our universities, and its importance in contributing to societal and economic prosperity is strongly supported by the Government.

“[The] new version of the KEF takes further forward the vision and potential of KE activity, providing richer evidence to demonstrate universities’ strengths in different areas when set alongside their peers.”