With the Knowledge Exchange Framework Forum 2021 rapidly approaching on 23rd February 2021 We give a preview about what you can expect from our virtual Forum and what you will hear at this pivotal time for the future of the KEF.
A Research England Update
With the first KEF results expected in the early part of 2021, we will welcome Research England for an update on KEF, the future of knowledge exchange and what the sector can learn from the first iteration of the process. Alice Frost, Director of Knowledge Exchange at Research England and Sacha Ayres, Senior Policy Adviser at Research England will be assessing the future of funding for knowledge exchange, as well as answering your questions and discussing learning points from the first KEF.
Embedding the Knowledge Exchange Concordat
The delivery of the Knowledge Exchange Concordat represents a key turning point for the knowledge exchange community with a central assessment of how institutions can define their mission, processes and approach to engagement. The Concordat will also be central in supporting improved performance and allowing institutions to review their knowledge exchange activity.
Our 2021 Forum will welcome Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University and Chair of the UUK & Research England KE Concordat Task and Finish Group. This keynote update from Professor McMillan will explore how the Concordat will be harnessed to evaluate sector-wide knowledge exchange performance and help support continuous improvement across HE knowledge exchange activity.
Live and Interactive
Whilst Covid restrictions are still in play, our 2021 Forum will be a fully virtual experience. We are proud of the online offering we have developed for this year’s Forum meaning you won’t miss any of the vital networking and problem-solving benefits of our annual Forum. This year we will offer AI match making, session replay functions, live breakout workshops, on demand content and a next generation conference platform. As such, you will benefit from the same solutions focussed experience for the virtual environment.
New Workshops on Design and Delivery
Our 2021 Forum will offer two new workshop sessions on design and delivery following the first iteration of the KEF. The workshops to choose from will assess two critical questions:
How Do We Better Evaluate and Communicate Knowledge Exchange Activity?
Implementation: What can We Learn from the First KEF?
These live sessions will allow you to reflect on your first KEF cycle, hear from others and their challenges and work with peers to develop common ideas and solutions. Expect lots of discussion, frank conversations and best practice sharing from across the sector.
What did We Learn from the First Iteration?
This Forum comes at a crucial time as institutions now look to the outcomes from the first iteration. We will be hosting a number of case studies from institutions on their first cycle. The sessions will explore what worked, what didn’t and how institutions can work to support effective KEF preparation and delivery in the future. These sessions will also address specific challenges including the development of narrative statements, high impact knowledge exchange partnerships and the role of effective regional engagement.
