Frameworks, reporting and definitions
Higher education providers (HEPs), including the 伊人直播app, teach students and undertake research that creates new and useful knowledge. But we also work with many different types of partner to ensure that this knowledge can be used for the benefit of the economy and society - this is known as knowledge exchange (KE).
To support this work there is a Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) which was developed by Research England. The KEF aims to allow providers of higher education to better understand and improve their own performance in knowledge exchange, as well as provide more information about the world-class knowledge and expertise within English providers of higher education.
The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HE-BCI) is the main vehicle for measuring the volume and direction of interactions between UK HE providers and business and the wider community. The survey collects information on the infrastructure, capacity and strategy of HE providers, and also numeric and financial data regarding third stream activity (that is, activities concerned with the generation, use, application and exploitation of knowledge and other HE provider capabilities outside academic environments, these being distinct from the core activities of teaching and research).
The HE-BCI Survey is mandatory for HE providers in England and Wales, excluding The University of Wales (central functions) and determines the amount of HEIF funding the University receives each year.
The majority of this strategic institutional funding is delivered as block grants.
The main block grant funding for research delivered by Research England is called quality-related research (QR) funding. Research England funding of this type for knowledge exchange is called the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)
The Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) supports knowledge exchange between higher education providers and the wider world that benefits society and the economy.
The available HEIF funding for 2024/2025 was £260 million.
HEIF qualifying income:
HEIF qualifying income refers to the types of income that are used by Research England to calculate how much Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) a university or higher education institution (HEI) is eligible to receive. Research England uses a formula-based allocation system that considers an institution’s knowledge exchange (KE) income over a three-year period, with more weight given to the most recent year. Qualifying income includes:
- Income from collaborative research
- Contract research income
- Consultancy income
- Income from intellectual property
- Income from Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and non-accredited training
- Income from facilities and equipment related services
- Income from Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
- Income from working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - this is double weighted to reflect its importance and higher costs.
How do the KEF, HE-BCI and HEIF link together and why are they important?
The KEF identifies what Knowledge Exchange Activity is and how different institutions engage with the activity. The HE-BCI survey records the amount of Knowledge Exchange undertaken by each university. This then leads to the HEIF Income being awarded to HEI’s to support further Knowledge Exchange Activity and provides additional income to universities, to encourage them to undertake the activities.Definitions
HEIF:
HEIF stands for the Higher Education Innovation Fund. It is a UK government funding initiative managed by Research England (part of UKRI) that supports knowledge exchange (KE) between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the wider world.
Impact:
The demonstrable contribution that research makes to society and the economy.
Innovation:
Creating new ideas, methods or processes or services which result in significant improvements or value. For businesses, the development and application of ideas that improve the way a company operates, delivers value to customers or gains a competitive advantage.
Knowledge Exchange (KE):
A two-way process where universities and external partners (such as businesses, public sector organisations, and communities) share knowledge, ideas, and experiences to generate mutual benefits This can also be viewed as ‘Any activity we undertake with a non-academic partner’
Knowledge Exchange Concordat:
The Knowledge Exchange Concordat (KE Concordat) is a UK framework designed to support and enhance knowledge exchange (KE) activities within higher education institutions (HEIs). It complements the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) by focusing on principles and practices rather than metrics.
Licensing:
Granting permission to external organisations to use university-owned intellectual property in exchange for royalties or other forms of compensation.
Public Engagement:
Activities designed to involve the public in the research process, enhancing the impact and relevance of research.
Real world impact:
Real-world impact refers to the tangible, measurable effects that an action, project, policy, or piece of research has on society, the economy, the environment, or individuals' lives outside of academic or theoretical settings.
Spinouts:
New companies formed to commercialise intellectual property developed within a university.
Stakeholder:
A stakeholder is any individual, group, or organisation that has an interest in or is affected by the outcomes of a project, decision, or activity.