Strategy and development

To inform the development of future strategy and funding and promote good practice, we are committed to a programme of work that comprises:

Research to improve understanding of the ways higher education (HE) engages with the economy and society and to explore new areas of knowledge exchange
Evaluation of past projects and achievements and lessons learnt from third stream funding to inform future policy, funding and practice
Projects with partners where the expertise or professional service that supports our aims lies outside the Council.

Research

We commission research on the relationship between universities and the wider world in a range of key areas. These areas include:

Research into knowledge exchange
Research papers into the current state and development of knowledge exchange across the higher education sector.
The impact of higher education institutions on regional economies and societies
With the Economic and Social Research Council and other UK funding bodies we are funding a joint research programme on the impact of higher education institutions on regional economies and societies.
Global innovation environments
A report focussed on centres where leading-edge academics and businesses can interact, share knowledge and develop partnerships. The study looks at overseas examples to consider different approaches to the structures, activities and outputs of such environments.

Evaluation

While research supports strategic thinking around the area of knowledge exchange, it is also important to take stock of the projects that are either in train or which have run their course, and of our overall progress towards achieving our aims and objectives. Formal evaluations of this sort help us to inform the development of our work. To date we have carried out several evaluations of 'third stream' funding, including a comprehensive study of all our funding in this area.

Projects and partnership

Partnership is the third of three pillars that support the strategic development of our work in business and community engagement. Working together effectively with partners is essential where the expertise or professional service that supports our aims lies outside the Council.

Our partnership activities have so far covered training in the practice of knowledge exchange and jointly funded innovative projects.