Policy Advice & Research - Knowledge Transfer in FE

With support from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the New Engineering Foundation (NEF) is working with educators, entrepreneurs and policy makers to expand Knowledge and Technology Exchange in Further Education.

Since its inception, NEF have driven consistently the Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) in FE agenda. In 2005 a research study on KTT in FEformed the basis for much of the work NEF has undertaken with the London Development Agency to promulgate and promote Knowledge Transfer in London Colleges.

The report of 2005 also served to underpin the latest research study in KTT in FE 2008, which looked to explore the state of readiness of FE to engage in KTT activities, and set out actions needed to accelerate development of FE and business over the next 3 years. The recommendations from this study have been included in the Sainsbury Science Review – Race to the Top (Chapter 4), and in the Government’s White Paper Innovation Nation – Chapter 7 Innovative People.

A major constituent of the KTT in FE 2008 study has been the Focus Groups held around the country and hosted by Regional Development Agencies. Participants included employers, Sector Skills Councils and representatives of both FE and Higher Education. The output of these Focus groups informed two DIUS-supported Consultations Meetings, subsequently leading to the Government announcement of the PathFinder Projects and the new KTT in FE policy at the LSC Conference on Innovation and Specialisation in FE on 8 May 2008. NEF’s new Knowledge and Technology Exchange Nodes Project (K/TENs) was also announced at the Conference.

A copy of the KTT in FE Report 2005 can be found here

A copy of the KTT in FE Report 2008 can be found here

The NEF submission on engineering and KTE to the Innovation, Universities & Skills
Select Committee inquiry into engineering can be read here

Knowledge exchange is the action of transmitting both tacit and implicit knowledge among various stakeholders in an educational and/or entrepreneurial project. Technology exchange is the process of developing practical applications from the results of scientific research and development with for commercial exploitation.