Kingston University’s research and knowledge exchange ambitions highlighted during Town House event

The key role Kingston University’s research and knowledge exchange activity plays in driving innovation – and its ambitions for the future – was the focus of a special event held in the award-winning Town House building.

The event, which was held in the 50th anniversary year of Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme, highlighted how the University’s recently established Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes (KERIs) were driving advances to help address global challenges. This activity underpins the University’s visionary Town House Strategy alongside its commitment to equipping students with the Future Skills needed for career success.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier began by reflecting on the progress the University had been making with its Future Skills programme, which is based on empirical evidence from businesses on what skills they need employees to have.  

This September will see the rollout of Apply across the third-year undergraduate curriculum – meaning every student on every undergraduate programme would be benefiting from and being assessed on their acquisition of Future Skills.

While emphasising how the University's Future Skills programme and TEF Gold achievement demonstrated its commitment to delivering an outstanding education, the Vice-Chancellor also stressed that the mission of higher education was about more than learning and teaching – it was also about generating and disseminating knowledge. 

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), 70 per cent of the University’s research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The four KERIs bring together the University’s world-class expertise across its areas of excellence to drive innovation and deliver even greater societal impact.

“We want to increase our authority and the visibility of what we’re doing in research and knowledge exchange,” Professor Spier said. “That’s the reason we created the KERIs, which are also actively encouraging interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange, which is where the most challenging problems are.”

Guest speaker Richard Lamb, Programme Manager for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) at Innovate UK, the United Kingdom’s innovation agency, then took to the stage to discuss the essential role of universities in driving the knowledge economy. “Universities are critical to innovation in the UK – it’s where knowledge is generated. Radical thinking underpins the excellence of institutions like Kingston University,” he noted.

Mr Lamb highlighted the strong partnership between Innovate UK and Kingston University, recognising its potential for even greater collaboration, particularly with KTPs. “I see real scope for the number of KTPs at Kingston to grow significantly,” he said. He also commended the University’s interdisciplinary approach through the newly established KERIs, adding, "Kingston is ahead of the game. The fact that the KERIs are already engaging beyond the University is incredibly positive."

The event also provided a platform for the four KERI Directors – Professors Marcus O’Dair, Debra Gray, Adam Le Gresley and JC Nebel – to outline their vision for expanding the University’s research and knowledge exchange impact. 

Professor Marcus O’Dair, KERI Director for Design, Arts and Creative Practice, expressed enthusiasm for Kingston’s ongoing KTP successes and the role of KERIs in driving future applications. “Through the KERIs, we will generate the next wave of impactful collaborations,” he remarked.

Emphasising the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, Professor Debra Gray, KERI Director for Behaviour, Business and Policy, highlighted the KERIs' role in tackling grand challenges and showcasing the University’s strengths. “The interdisciplinary approach we’ve embedded within KERIs will allow us to address significant global issues and demonstrate the University’s expertise,” she stated. “We want the world to see the problems we solve, the issues we tackle, and the challenges we are equipped to overcome.”

• Find out more about Kingston University's Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes.