Key details
Date
- 27 September 2023
Author
- RCA
Read time
- 2 minutes
In the third iteration of Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF3) which looks at the performance of English Higher Education Providers (HEPs) from a variety of different perspectives, the RCA has achieved an outstanding set of results, building on a strong performance in both the previous KEF results.
Key details
Date
- 27 September 2023
Author
- RCA
Read time
- 2 minutes
KEF3 results present universities’ performance, and allow benchmarking, within clusters in seven knowledge exchange perspectives including
- CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and grad start-ups
- Public and community engagement
- IP (Intellectual Property) and commercialisation
- Research partnerships
- Working with business
- Working with the public and third sector
- Local growth and regeneration
Building on our strong performance in KEF1 and KEF2, the RCA KEF3 results once again demonstrate the College's strength in knowledge exchange, again achieving the highest level of engagement in Continuing Professional Development and Public and Community Engagement whilst adding the area of IP and Commercialisation to the College’s highest engagement scores.
The College consistently remains above the Arts cluster average in the areas of Research Partnership, Working with Businesses and Working with the Public Sector. The College's performance against these metrics is the highest within the Art cluster.
The Knowledge Exchange Framework uses robust data and metrics to provide public information about the rich and diverse ways in which English universities engage with and contribute to society and the economy, locally, nationally, and internationally. It allows universities to understand and improve their own performance in knowledge exchange, and provides businesses and other stakeholders with more information to help them access the world-class knowledge and expertise within English universities.
The RCA’s KEF3 results continue to demonstrate the strength and value that engaging with the UK's arts specialist institutions brings to partners in business and industry, the public sector and NGOs, as well as to local communities.
“I'm delighted to see that the RCA continues to perform well above the creative arts sector average in our KEF results, for the third year running. In addition to the well-deserved recognition for the work of colleagues across the College in achieving the highest scores possible in the categories of Public and Community Engagement, and in Continuing Professional Development (through our Executive Education courses), I'm particularly proud to see we have now also secured the highest score in the IP and Commercialisation category, testament to the continued excellence in InnovationRCA's work with students, start-ups and staff. Congratulations to all the staff in our Schools, Research Centres, InnovationRCA and professional service teams who have contributed to this success.”
Director of Research and Innovation, Royal College of Art
The full KEF dashboards are available at this link.
The case studies listed below represent a cross-section of knowledge exchange related projects that have been undertaken at the RCA:
Continuing Professional Development: Innovation Fellowship with London & Partners
The RCA is the academic lead for ground-breaking Innovation Fellowship, delivered by the RCA’s Executive Education team in collaboration with London & Partners. The Innovation Fellowship provides senior innovation leaders in London’s larger businesses with tailored support to develop their strategic approach to open innovation, build their peer network and deepen their understanding of London’s ecosystem. Fellows demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and inclusion, both within their organisations and in the wider community.
Public and Community Engagement: FASHION + JOY
F A S H I O N + J O Y is a collaborative project between the RCA's MA Fashion programme and Share Community, a charity based in Clapham Junction that works with adults with disabilities, autism and other learning difficulties.
Intellectual Property & Commercialisation: Dotplot
Founded in 2022, Dotplot is developing a breast health monitoring tool designed to help women look after their breasts with confidence. The device offers guided self-checks and month-by-month comparisons of breast tissue to flag abnormalities as early as possible. Developed at the RCA and founded by RCA MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering graduates Debra Babalola and Shefali Bohra, based on patent-pending technology, the company’s goal is to alleviate the confusion and misconceptions surrounding breast self-checks.
