Positive results for the RCA in the fifth Knowledge Exchange Framework

KEF5 results present universities’ performance, and allow benchmarking, within clusters across seven knowledge exchange categories including:

• CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and graduate start-ups
• Public and community engagement
• IP (Intellectual Property) and commercialisation
• Research partnerships
• Working with business
• Working with the public and third sector
• Local growth and regeneration

Building on excellent performances in KEF1, KEF2, KEF3 and KEF4, the RCA KEF5 results once again demonstrate the College's strength in knowledge exchange, again achieving the highest level of engagement in Continuing Professional Development and Public and Community Engagement whilst maintaining the highest engagement scores within the area of IP and Commercialisation. The RCA consistently remains above the Arts cluster average in the areas of Research Partnerships, Working with Business and Working with the Public and Third Sector.

The Knowledge Exchange Framework is a landmark tool that helps universities and policymakers understand how higher education is driving forwards to achieve economic growth and societal benefit across England.

Now in its fifth year, KEF has proven to be a well-designed, resilient, and trusted framework, designed by Research England to shine a light on how different universities collaborate with businesses, communities, and public services. It enables institutions to track their progress, benchmark performance, and make smarter decisions about how they share knowledge and innovation with the world.

The Royal College of Art’s KEF5 results demonstrate the significant value that engaging with the UK's specialist creative institutions brings to partners in business and industry, the public sector and NGOs, and to local communities.

The full KEF dashboards are available at this link.

The case studies listed below represent a cross-section of knowledge exchange related projects that have been undertaken at the RCA:

For over a decade, the Royal College of Art has been a leader in design futures research and practice. The Futures Through Design short course is an in-person, intensive three-day experience designed for organisational leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals who are seeking to transform strategic uncertainty into innovative opportunity. Participants learn advanced design methodologies to anticipate, map, and use complex future scenarios to affect change across organisations, industry sectors or communities.

With a chronic undersupply of suitable Later Living housing and a lack of market innovation, the RCA worked with architectural designers Cartwright Pickard to develop a Knowledge Transfer Partnership exploring possible solutions. The aim of this Knowledge Transfer Partnership was to develop an innovative new mixed-use Later Living typology for urban sites, in town centres, providing middle market and affordable, build-to-rent housing for the over 65s, woven into the heart of thriving urban communities. The research examined the status quo in the Later Living housing market, the future demands on the sector and the way in which innovative design approaches can help the UK to adapt to the changing housing requirements of a population that is living longer.

The International Flavours & Fragrances (IFF) Prize has been inspiring students to imagine the future of fragrance with conceptual project briefs since 1993. It is the longest-running industry project at the RCA. This collaborative research-led project harnesses the power of scent to create emotional connection and foster change in urgent contemporary issues. Students are challenged to rethink scent as a design tool, taking fragrance beyond the bottle and into unexpected spaces, from galleries and playgrounds to the surface of Mars. The project helps students to expand their research perspectives and learn how to pitch an idea.

In February and March 2024, children from up to 40 primary schools across Wandsworth created artworks exploring the impact of textile waste on the planet, for a public exhibition and a programme of creative workshops for visitors in April and May 2024. Devised and delivered by RCA MA Fashion alumna Caroline Lauvetz, Weaving Out Waste drew inspiration from Wandsworth’s rich history of textile manufacturing. Pupils wove unique pieces of cloth from Wandsworth-sourced reclaimed fabrics which were then joined together to create a textile river. The exhibition, in Wandsworth’s Southside shopping centre, referenced the river Wandle’s historic role at the heart of the local textile industry and today’s polluted rivers worldwide.

Pupils learned about the life cycle of a garment to understand the environmental impact of current industrial fashion systems, and discover sustainable methods of manufacturing and clothing. As well as this environmental education, pupils developed their creative skills such as drawing, sketching, cutting, weaving, and creating patterns with colours.

Overall, 1,323 children participated in the workshops and the exhibition attracted 2,462 visitors. The project has been shortlisted for a Green Gown Award in the Benefitting Society category.