First Knowledge Exchange Framework outcomes show RCA in top 10 percent

The data, available on the KEF’s interactive and detailed new website, informs a series of metrics that look at the performance of English Higher Education Providers (HEPs) from a variety of different perspectives. With almost 90 percent of England’s HEPs taking part, these perspectives include public and community engagement, working with partners ranging from big businesses to small local firms, and how they commercialise their research.

This data shows rich contributions that English HEPs make, both economically and socially, on both local and national levels. The knowledge exchange that underpins the KEF will help promote cooperation and drive continuous improvement in the higher education sector.

Following the submission of the Royal College of Art’s KEF activities last year, the positive results for the College show that:

• The RCA, in spite of being a small specialist university, is in the top 10 percent of all HEPs in England for the 'Public & Community Engagement' category and the 'Skills, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship' category
• The RCA performed extremely well overall  - and well above the peer groups of other creative and performing arts specialist institutions - this includes areas such as IP and commercialisation, and working with business and the public and third sectors.

Speaking of the accomplishment, Dr Emma Wakelin, Director of Research and Innovation, Royal College of Art said:

‘I'm pleased to say we've performed extremely well in this first year of the KEF. This is  a very strong outcome for the RCA, where we are consistently strong across all KEF categories, and outstanding in several. This is a great reflection of the excellent achievements  of the whole College, as well as the work of our Knowledge Exchange team, led by Tatiana Schofield, and our Community Engagement team.’

The full KEF dashboards are available at  https://kef.ac.uk/