Knowledge Exchange Framework

Man and woman at a news desk with KMTV news on the main screen

Knowledge Exchange Framework

Kent's definition of Knowledge Exchange:

“A two-way exchange between researchers, students and research users, to share ideas, evidence research, experiences and skills. It refers to any process through which academic ideas and insights are shared, and external perspectives and experiences brought in to academia.” 

Piloted in 2020 and led by Research England, the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) forms the third pillar of assessment of university activities, alongside the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Alongside the KEF, Universities have also been asked to sign up to a Knowledge Exchange Concordat (KEC) of good principles and practice, confirming their intention to embed KE in the institution.

Research England's KEF Website
The audience in a lecture theatre at Kent Business Summit

Our KEF Statement

"Knowledge exchange has long been at the heart of our research and innovation activities at Kent. We believe in the power of working collaboratively with industry and the community to benefit both the economy and society, and are determined to extend our KE activities at a local, national and international level.

As keen participants in both the KE Concordat and the Framework, we welcome this opportunity to better understand our performance and to put KE on the map for all our staff, students and partners, creating clear access routes and engagement opportunities across our portfolio."

Shane Weller, DVC of Research and Innovation


Purpose of the KEF

1.    To enable universities to better understand and improve their own performance in knowledge exchange activities;

2.    To provide businesses and other users with more information to help them access the world-class knowledge and expertise within English providers of higher education.

Mother and child wearing bright colours at the Boing Festival

KEF Perspectives

The KEF assesses a university’s KE activities, through narrative and metric data, under seven broad ‘Perspectives’:

  1. Research Partnerships;
  2. Working with Business;
  3. Working with the Public and Third Sector;
  4. Continual Professional Development and Graduate Start-ups;
  5. Local Growth and Regeneration;
  6. Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation;
  7. Public and Community Engagement.
group of people sat on blue sofas with one standing in front of a whiteboard

KE in practice

Successful knowledge exchange activities.

Lady sat at desk in front of laptop holding a phone.

Contact us:

Contact the KEF team directly.