- The University of Sheffield has been named as one of the top universities in England for collaborating with businesses and working with the public and third sectors
- First ever Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) highlights Sheffield's strength in working with partners from all sectors to find solutions to challenges in industry and society
- KEF also shows that Sheffield is among the top universities in England for public and community engagement and for commercialising research and intellectual property (IP)
- Data from KEF shows the rich contributions English higher education providers make, both economically and socially, on both local and national levels.
The University of Sheffield is in the top 10 per cent of universities in England for working with businesses to find solutions to problems in industry and society, according to a new framework published today (Wednesday 31 March).
The first ever Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), published by Research England, also places Sheffield in the top 10 per cent of universities for working with the public and third sectors, as well as commercialising its research and IP, and for public and community engagement.
The KEF is a new analysis of data that shows the contribution that higher education institutions make to society. It reveals how universities work with partners locally, nationally and internationally to find solutions to economic and social challenges - known as knowledge exchange.
In the framework, universities across the UK are grouped into clusters of institutions with similar characteristics to help create a picture of the diversity of knowledge exchange activities that take place throughout higher education. Sheffield has been grouped into a cluster with 16 other universities*.
The new KEF also includes narratives which paint a picture of how higher education providers can stimulate local growth. Over the last 20 years, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has shown how effective the model of an academic-business partnership can be to stimulate local growth. It has attracted global brands like McLaren and Boeing to open new facilities in the North, as well as empowered Sheffield City Region's own homegrown manufacturing leaders and SMEs.
