18 October 2017 
Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
Eager to add to the growing list of sector TLAs, Jo Johnson announced the introduction of the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) this week, which “brings together a comprehensive range of measures of impact from collaboration and knowledge exchange”, with the ambition that it “will become an important public indicator of how good a job universities are doing at discharging their third mission, just as the REF rewards excellence in research and the TEF rewards excellence in teaching and student outcomes.” The measure was included in an R&D-themed speech at the HEFCE conference but, as is to be expected, details of the new system are currently thin on the ground.
Wonkhe’s coverage of the speech noted that “the tone was positively conciliatory, with Johnson talking about taking “great care, involving the sector at every point, so not to inadvertently skew behaviours”, which is good news if it continues. Wonkhe also believes it likely that KEF participation will be necessary in future for access to HEIF funding. The story is also covered in the Times Higher.
