The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), led by Research England, provides information about the achievements of English Universities in serving the economy and society for the benefit of the public, business and communities.
The aim of the KEF is to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public funding for knowledge exchange (KE) and to further a culture of continuous improvement in universities. It allows universities to better understand and improve their own performance, as well as providing businesses and other users with the information to help them access the world-class knowledge and expertise embedded in English universities.
KEF provides important tools to measure and reward KE performance and delivery of key Government priorities.
KEF 2022 results
The results of the second Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF2) have been announced, with the University of Liverpool attaining the highest possible position, Quintile 5, representing very high engagement, for Research Partnerships, Working with Business, and Working with the Public and Third Sector.
The University also attained Quintile 4 positions, representing high engagement, for IP and Commercialisation, and Public and Community Engagement, and a Quintile 3 position (medium engagement) for Local Growth and Regeneration.
A set of new interactive dashboards have been released by Research England providing further details about the results of the second KEF. This includes statements provided by HEIs in the first iteration on Institutional KE Context, Local Growth and Regeneration, and Public and Community Engagement.
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Impact, Professor Anthony Hollander, said:
“It is fantastic to see the University’s strong performance once again in the Knowledge Exchange Framework. In five of the seven perspectives considered in KEF, we are recognised as having high or very high engagement, and this reflects the hard work of many colleagues across the institution and the strength of our relationships with our partners, which enables us to deliver real world impacts.”
KEF2 continues to demonstrate the range of valuable activities universities conduct with external partners across seven perspectives. The University of Liverpool remains in Cluster V with other very large, very high research intensive and broad discipline HEIs undertaking significant amounts of excellent research, including most of the English Russell Group Universities along with London Business School.
The University exceeds the cluster average for engagement in Research Partnerships, and Working with Public and Third sector. Our performance in Working with Business, Public and Community Engagement, and Local Growth and Regeneration is in line with the cluster average.
English HEIs were ranked across a broad range of Knowledge Exchange metrics using the latest available HESA HE Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) Survey data from 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. These metric rankings were collated to provide quintile scores across seven perspectives to highlight areas of strength. HEIs were then grouped into clusters to enable a fair comparison across a diverse sector.
Some technical changes have been introduced in this second iteration, including the use of an evolved methodology, updated metrics, and enhanced presentation of the results. The changes were designed following a deep-dive review of the first iteration with the sector to improve the robustness of the results.
KEF 2021 results
The first iteration of KEF was announced in March 2021, with the University attaining a top 20% position for Research Partnerships, Working with Business, and Public and Community Engagement. The University was also in the top 30% for Working with the Public and Third Sector, top 40% for Local Growth and Regeneration, and top 50% for IP and Commercialisation.
Universities were ranked across a broad range of KE metrics for 2016/17 – 2018/19 which were then collated to provide decile scores across seven perspectives to highlight areas of strength. Universities were then grouped into clusters to enable a fair comparison of higher education providers across a diverse sector.
Further information about KEF can be found here.
View the University’s KEF results for 2023 here.
Contact us
If you require further information around KEF, please contact us at keinfo@liverpool.ac.uk.
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