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  • > Business & community

• Committee
• B&C scope
• HEIF 4
• Future third stream strategy
• HE-BCI
• Beacons for Public Engagement
• Social Entrepreneurship Awards
• Continuous improvement
• Completed initiatives

Business & community

Strategic aim and objectives

The strategic focus of the business & community theme is to enhance the contribution of higher education to the economy and society.

We aim to increase the impact of the HE knowledge base to enhance economic development and the strength and vitality of society, particularly focusing on innovation and enterprise. Together with other stakeholders, we are seeking to secure long-term and adequate support for such third stream activities as a significant HE function.

Our aim and objectives are set out in the HEFCE strategic plan. We pursue these objectives primarily through:

• Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) - a funding programme for higher education institutions to support their knowledge exchange activities and interactions with business and the community (including Centres for Knowledge Exchange)
• Higher education-business and community interaction (HE-BCI) - an annual survey of third stream data collection
• Continuous improvement - we are working with the HE sector to embed a culture of continuous improvement in HEIs, through supporting a number of projects and initiatives
• Future third stream strategy - we are developing our long-term view of the third stream, by undertaking research, evaluation and experimental projects.

Last updated 17 September 2009