Carol Barron, Director of Innovation and Enterprise, RIS
The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) is a relatively new assessment exercise run by UKRI intended to increase efficiency in use of public funding for knowledge exchange (KE). The University of Kent has been placed in peer group cluster X which represents “large, high research intensive and broad discipline universities undertaking a significant amount of world-leading research”. Following a consultation with the sector a pilot study was held in 2019 and the final details of the first iteration of the KEF metrics exercise were released in January 2020. Research England have now confirmed that this exercise will be annual, institutional-level and mainly metrics-driven with an additional narrative component.
The first KEF exercise will be using data from the previous three academic years. For the first iteration, the KEF will not be linked to funding, but Research England have stated that it is likely that full participation will become a condition of funding from 2021/22.
In its first iteration, the KEF will assess knowledge exchange activities under seven broad perspectives (research partnerships; working with business; working with the public and third sectors; skills, enterprise and entrepreneurship; local growth and regeneration; IP and commercialisation; and public and community engagement). Each perspective has a number of underlying metrics, all using data that is already collected (mainly from the HE-BCI annual survey). For the public and community engagement perspective, Research England are trialling a self-assessment metric.
Additional narrative statements are also required for two of the perspectives (public and community engagement and local growth and regeneration), setting out the needs of the local area/community, activities that have been undertaken over the last three academic years to meet these, and any outputs and outcomes. An institutional statement will also be submitted, providing contextual information. Templates for the narrative statements and self-assessment will be submitted to Research England in October 2020. Further information will be communicated across Divisions next month (June).
Results of the first metrics exercise are expected to be published in summer 2020 and will be published by cluster group. We will be in a good position at this stage to assess our performance in each perspective relative to the averages for our cluster group. Results for each perspective won’t be aggregated to give a single ‘score’ or ranking. Following publication of the results of the first iteration, Research England intend to evaluate and develop the method and metrics used, so future iterations may have different requirements, metrics and forms of assessment.
The introduction of KEF is split into two timelines; the development year will be 2020/2021 with the Final KEF being rolled out in 2021/2022. We could therefore see further iterations of the metrics and reporting being put into place at the end of 2020/21.
KIE will be putting together a number of briefing documents over the coming months. In support of the institutional focus on KEF, Dr Sarah Carey has been appointed as KEF Co-ordinator. Sarah will be supporting the Director in the implementation and ongoing support required for KEF as well as the central point of contact.