Strategy 2009-10 to 2013-14
Knowledge Transfer
Strategic Aim Three - To act as a major stimulus for
social, cultural and economic development, through innovation, enterprise
and partnerships.
The three priority aims of our knowledge transfer strategy -
Inspiring innovation; Stimulating regional prosperity; and
Enabling enterprise – reflect the University’s commitment to making a
significant contribution to regional, national and international economic,
social and cultural development.
The
University is responding to the increasingly complex issues facing
modern-day societies and economies by leveraging its interdisciplinary
approach to research and sharing the outcomes via a variety of channels and
with a range of partners. Our impact on economies, societies and cultures
will be a function of our ability to disseminate knowledge arising from our
research and to develop skilled, entrepreneurial students.
We will increase the level of engagement in knowledge transfer activities
both through greater participation by our staff and students, and by
stimulating increased demand from businesses, policy makers, and the public
and third sectors. We will also ensure that there are opportunities for
knowledge and expertise to flow from outside organisations into the
University.
Inspiring innovation will be based on engaging
interdisciplinary groups in contract and collaborative research,
consultancy, knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) and licensing in
response to the demands of a growing knowledge economy and a diverse set of
global challenges.
Stimulating regional prosperity will deliver facilities,
access to networks and links to relevant support agencies for local and
regional enterprises, an expansion in the provision of training and
professional development programmes enabling higher level skills acquisition
by a wide range of businesses, public sector bodies and charities. The
University will also seek to develop additional channels to disseminate
knowledge to a wider audience.
Enabling enterprise will facilitate the development of
entrepreneurial individuals and communities through the provision of a more
comprehensive and integrated programme to support entrepreneurship, graduate
start-ups, employability skills, access to networks, funding and start-up
facilities.
As a small, research-led, institution, we will optimise our impact by
focusing more on interdisciplinary research activities and seeking partners
with which we can deliver ‘total solutions’ for research users. This
approach is also relevant to our engagement with society, and can enrich our
offerings to local communities.
This activity is supported by the development of the Knowledge Gateway
focussing on the University’s international research strengths. The
flagship development will be a new Institute for Democracy and Conflict
Resolution, which will form the central component of phase 1 of the Gateway.
The project also comprises an office village plus hotel/leisure facilities
and a new entrance to the University.
Our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) explain the
targets.
Further information can be found in the
University's Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) strategy (pdf
document) and in the
Knowledge transfer section on the Research and Enterprise Office
website.