Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF)
The University of Oxford is the world’s oldest English-speaking university, has been at the forefront of research, scholarship and innovation for over 850 years and is today a vibrant hub of internationally-leading work spanning all aspects of science, medicine, the social sciences and humanities. Our mission is the advancement of learning by teaching and research, and its dissemination by every means; and our goal is to make a difference at all scales, from the local to the global, influencing technology, policy and culture for the benefit of society. We aim to excel in every knowledge exchange and innovation mechanism to deliver these goals, including activities measured by the KEF metrics and beyond.
This page contains supporting links and further information on the strategies, support, activities and outcomes described in the University of Oxford's KEF narrative submissions. The full narratives are published by Research England and are available through the KEF dashboard.
Institutional context
Links in the narrative statement
- Medical Sciences Division (MSD)
- Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS)
- Social Sciences Division
- Humanities Division
- Department of Continuing Education
- Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM)
- Innovation and partnership opportunities and support
- Research income
- Development and supply of COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with AstraZeneca
- OxVent collaboration
- Oxford Hub city-wide community engagement
- RECOVERY clinical trial
- Oxford University Innovation (OUI) technology transfer office
- Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN)
- BioEscalator business incubator on the medical campus
- Oxford Sciences Innovation plc (OSI) investment fund
- Oxford Foundry (OxFo) support for student entrepreneurs
- sOPHIa first social enterprise spinout
- Reuben College
- Reuben College core principles of collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship
- Humanities KE fellowships
- Industrial relationship team in Medical Sciences
- Industrial relationship team in MPLS
- Public Engagement with Research (PER) network
- Cross-disciplinary networks - Oxford Networks for the Environment (ONE)
- Cross-disciplinary networks - The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)
- Cross-disciplinary networks - Oxford Martin School
- University of Oxford's contribution to the regional economy
- Enterprising Oxford support for entrepreneurship in Oxford
Additional information
Details of relevant initiatives started after the KEF narrative submission will be added here in due course.
Local growth and regeneration
Oxford University contributes to Local Growth and Regeneration (LGR) by working collaboratively with regional stakeholders. Together we have identified opportunities for economic and social gain that the University’s research and knowledge exchange communities can help to deliver, co-developing strategies, plans and projects that make a tangible difference.
There is significant support provided to enable researchers and students to contribute directly to LGR through innovation, entrepreneurial activities and business collaborations, built upon world-leading research. This includes new innovation buildings, the creation of spin-out and start-up companies and provision of business education programmes. We catalyse innovation and investment within the local ecosystem, delivering economic and societal benefits and supporting Oxfordshire and the UK to become a beacon for further investment.
Links in the narrative statement
- University of Oxford Knowledge Exchange Strategy
- University of Oxford Strategic Plan 2018-2023
- Oxford-Cambridge Arc
- Oxford Smart Handpumps
- Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP)
- Oxfordshire Green Paper
- Arc Universities Group
- Oxfordshire Local Industrial Strategy
- Oxfordshire Science and Innovation Audit
- Oxford Hub
- Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership (OSEP)
- University of Oxford KE Strategy
- Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
- Commendation of KE Strategy
- Oxfordshire Local Industrial Strategy
- Future State if the Oxfordshire Economy
- Oxfordshire Science and Innovation Audit
- OxLEP Energy Strategy
- OxLEP Innovation Strategy
- OxLEP Creative, Cultural, Heritage and Tourism Strategy
- OxLEP Skills Strategy
- Smart Oxford
- Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership (OSEP)
- Policy engagement
- Commercialisation of research-based ideas
- Student entrepreneurship
- Oxford Foundry
- Start-up Incubator
- Oxford Hub
- Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership (OSEP)
- Enterprising Oxford
- Innovation and partnership opportunities and support
- Agile Lab
- Blenheim Palace partnership
- Legal & General partnership
- The BioEscalator
- Oxfordshire Local Industrial Strategy investment prospectus
- Entrepreneurs' response to Covid-19
- Oxford University Innovation plc
- fDi's regions of the future ranking
Additional information
Regional representation by senior members of the University
Direct engagement in local networks and groups and other local partnership structures is one of the key elements of our approach, and supports an institutional level understanding of the growth needs of the Oxfordshire region. Senior members of the University are directly involved in the structures that are primarily responsible for defining, designing, delivering and driving the growth needs of Oxfordshire.
- The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for research is the Board member representing higher education on the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
- The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation sits on the LEP, innovation sub-group
- The Director of Centre for Skills Knowledge & Organisational Performance sits on the skills sub-group.
- The Deputy Director of Research Services (Knowledge Exchange and Engagement) sits on the Local Industrial Strategy Group and co-Chairs the Oxford-Cambridge Arc University Group.
- The Head of Partnerships and Programmes, in museums sits on the culture and visitor economy sub-group.
- The Head of Environmental Sustainability on the clean growth sub-group.
- The Head of Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team sits on the LEP business support group, our and the recently constituted Oxfordshire COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan Task force.
In addition we have jointly funded a senior post with the LEP to develop stronger links, inform and pursue the development of robust funding opportunities, putting us centrally engaged with the structures that determine the needs of the region’s agenda for growth.
Details of relevant initiatives started after the KEF narrative submission will be added here in due course.
Public and community engagement
The University of Oxford’s mission is to facilitate excellence in research, teaching, engagement and innovation to realise beneficial outcomes for society at a local, regional, national and global scale. The University has an outstanding reputation for its research and teaching and our aim is also to become a leader in engagement. At the heart of our approach is partnership working between the University’s Academic Divisions, Research Services, Gardens, Libraries and Museums and external organisations to support staff and students to value, lead and participate in public and community engagement. Our key ways of working include provision of engagement opportunities, funding, reward and recognition, training and fostering networks and partnerships. As a result, there is a flourishing ongoing programme of high-quality and impactful public and community engagement.
Links in the narrative statement
- University Strategic Plan 2018-2023
- Public Engagement with Research Strategic Plan
- Knowledge Exchange Strategy
- The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) strategy
- University Academic Champion for PER [see ‘Academic Champion' tab]
- Specialist engagement staff
- The Schwarzman Centre will be Oxford’s new home for the humanities with state-of-the-art academic, exhibition and performance spaces.
- Reuben College - A new graduate college dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary exchange within an inclusive, innovative and engagement-oriented community.
- Public Engagement with Research Conference
- PE training programme
- Community Engagement training
- Medical Sciences Public Engagement Network
- Public Engagement with Research Leadership Scheme
- PER Laboratory
- Best practice engagement animations
- Best practice engagement case studies
- PER Seed Fund
- Community Engagement grants
- Enriching Engagement project summaries
- ESRC Impact Acceleration Account
- University's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account
- Social Enterprise Awards
- Wellcome Trust Centres
- Vice-Chancellor's Public Engagement with Research Awards
- Recognition of Distinction
- Signatories of San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment (DORA)
- IF-Oxford
- Oxford Scientist writing competition
- Cowley Road Works
- I'm a Researcher
- "Get involved with our research"
- Oxford Sparks
- Oxplore
- The Conversation
- Kwibuka Rwanda and Remembering Rwanda
- Mindfulness and Resilience in Adolescence (MYRIAD)
- Department for Continuing Education
- Continuing Professional Development
- Health in the Backyard
- Multaka-Oxford
- The Oxford Foundry (OxFo)
- Many evaluation reports available on request
- National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement
- NCCPE EDGE analysis
- NCCPE qualitative evaluation
- Evaluation reports available on request
- European Researchers' Night Curiosity Carnival
- Curiosity Carnival summary evaluation
- The Zooniverse citizen science projects
- Science:Art competition
- Parent-facing engagement
Additional information
Launched in February 2021 the Public Engagement Facilitators Network (PEFN) is a University-wide network, which creates opportunities for networking, shared learning and best practice in all things Public Engagement with Research.
The PER Leadership Scheme was a new pilot programme, which ran 2019-April 2021, for academics to take on a leadership role in a culture change project for their departments and faculties to enhance support for PER. The scheme was targeted at those who have a strong interest in PER, who want the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills within an academic environment and to explore new ways of working through facilitating change. The scheme was renamed the PER Culture Change Fund in 2021 and reopened for further applications.
The scheme launched in August 2019, and the 7 (initially 8) PER Leaders participated in training from a variety of internal and external PER and leadership professionals throughout the year; and were supported to develop and deliver PER culture change plans in their Department with up to £5k each of flexible funding to initiate PER-focused initiatives. The PER Leaders were given an extension to the end of April 2021 to give more time to facilitate culture change activities; and in some cases adjust plans as a response to Covid-19 restrictions.
Oxford University renewed its membership of The Conversation in 2020 to provide an online platform that enabled research students and researchers to engage the public with their research through written articles; and enable researchers and research students to benefit from training and workshops provided by the Editors of The Conversation as part of the membership package.