The knowledge exchange concordat seeks to enhance knowledge exchange within universities through the exchange of good practice, highlight the good practice that exists and act as a catalyst for collaboration between universities and with employers.
The development of the concordat has been led by UUK and GuildHE in partnership with Research England, NCUB and PraxisAURIL as well as other funders and stakeholders.
Publication cover note
A cover note from Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of UUK and Gordon McKenzie, Chief Executive of Guild HE has also been published alongside the document:
"We appreciate the immense pressures on institutions at the current time. We are very proud of the way members have gone to great lengths to help the NHS at a time of crisis but also the ways in which universities and higher education providers have sought to help businesses, charities and wider communities."
What is knowledge exchange?
Knowledge exchange (KE) refers to any action through which knowledge and research is shared between universities and partner organisations and turned into impact in society and the economy.
The commitment of the UK government to the 2.4% target for research and development spending demonstrates the value of higher education knowledge exchange. The concordat enables the sector to promote the many different forms of KE, gives clear indicators of their approaches to performance improvement, and provides a clarity of mission and support for the KE activities they perform.
What are the aims of the concordat?
The knowledge exchange concordat is designed to:
- give universities, other higher education providers and research institutions, along with their staff and students, a clarity of mission and support for the KE activities they perform
- give partners an accurate representation of the approach that individual organisations are taking to KE
- provide clear indicators of their approaches to performance improvement
- encourage organisations to work together to strengthen KE practices across the sector and to deliver KE when appropriate
- give governing bodies and governments broad confidence in the activity that is taking place
Signing up for the development year
As of 26 October 2020, institutions can sign up to the principles contained in the KE concordat and participate in the development year for England through completing a Letter of Commitment. Details of the self-evaluation and action plan exercises that form part of the development year have been released on the KE concordat portal for institutions to see what is involved.
Read the full statement about the launch.