Exceptional Results for the RCA in the fourth Knowledge Exchange Framework

KEF4 results present universities’ performance, and allow benchmarking, within clusters in seven knowledge exchange perspectives including

• CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and graduate start-ups
• Public and community engagement
• IP (Intellectual Property) and commercialisation
• Research partnerships
• Working with business
• Working with the public and third sector
• Local growth and regeneration

Building on our strong performance in KEF1, KEF2 and KEF3, the RCA KEF4 results once again demonstrate the College's strength in knowledge exchange, again achieving the highest level of engagement in Continuing Professional Development and Public and Community Engagement whilst maintaining the highest engagement scores within the area of IP and Commercialisation. The RCA consistently remains above the Arts cluster average in the areas of Research Partnership, Working with Businesses and Working with the Public Sector.

The Knowledge Exchange Framework uses robust data and metrics to provide public information about the rich and diverse ways in which English universities engage with and contribute to society and the economy, locally, nationally, and internationally. It allows universities to understand and improve their own performance in knowledge exchange, and provides businesses and other stakeholders with more information to help them access the world-class knowledge and expertise within English universities.

The RCA’s KEF4 results continue to demonstrate the strength and value that engaging with the UK's arts specialist institutions brings to partners in business and industry, the public sector and NGOs, as well as to local communities.

The full KEF dashboards are available at this link.

The case studies listed below represent a cross-section of knowledge exchange related projects that have been undertaken at the RCA:

The RCA x Design for Good Academy launched in 2024 to empower designers to address UN Sustainable Development Goals. Bringing together the creative expertise of the RCA and the impactful vision of Design for Good, the Academy aims to deliver an annual online short course for Design for Good alliance members, development organisations and RCA students. The course modules were designed to explore an end-to-end approach, from scoping a project with research methods and life-humanity centred design, through to systems and stakeholder analysis, value-proposition development, ideation, prototyping and implementation. Delving into the intersection of design and social responsibility, 275 participating designers explored avenues to create meaningful change in their communities and professional spheres by applying learnings to a real life project or activity.

In 2023, RCA MA Fashion staff and alumni worked with sixth form pupils aged 16–18 years old from Oasis Academy, Isle of Sheppey to engage younger people with ideas and challenges around digital identity in the Metaverse, with funding from an Epic Games MegaGrant. The Beyond Human project asked timely, vital questions about the opportunities and dangers of entering this space. The outcome of the project was a series of Digital Human portraits – each with a personal narrative.

Founded in 2022, BlueNose is a climate tech company operating in the shipping sector and developing technology to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The company's patent-pending technology, spun out of the RCA, employs algorithmically guided adjustable aerodynamic improvements at the front of container ships. The company is being incubated at InnovationRCA and has recently secured venture capital investment from the RCA's first venture capital fund for early stage businesses, the RCA Design & Innovation S/EIS Investment Fund.