Students' part in Knowledge Exchange

Best-known for teaching students, and conducting research, universities play several other important roles in society that can be less obvious.

‘Knowledge Exchange’ is the way that all the research and learning that goes on in the university turns into real-world benefit, and frequently involves students as well as academic staff, in collaboration with other groups including communities and businesses. This activity regularly has an impact in our local community, region and beyond.

Examples include students from The School of Business and Law working on a project to support a public awareness campaign on the impact of litter on Brighton and Hove beaches, pharmacy students working with members of the local community, and research and knowledge exchange project, ‘Mapping the Mithras communities’ which captures a range of local community, student and staff perspectives on the changes taking place around the University’s newly created campus at Mithras House in Moulsecoomb. Projects like these benefit the community and help students to develop their skills at the same time.

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Our Knowledge Exchange encourages the sharing of ideas, research, and experience which benefits everyone involved, and adds important additional dimensions to our research and teaching.

A recent national survey from Research England entitled the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) placed the University of Brighton in the top tiers for delivering benefits with partners.

The KEF looked at many aspects of the University of Brighton’s activities, which included:

  • Student volunteering
  • Students’ start-up businesses
  • Live briefs from businesses or community organisations that are part of our courses
  • Community projects in the region.

It also considered the work that our academic staff do with businesses and other organisations to help them to innovate, design new products and ways of doing things.

These mutually beneficial activities enrich our students’ learning opportunities. For example, your lecturers will frequently include case studies of the research or consultancy work they do with external partners in their teaching, often setting you live briefs or projects to try to solve a particular problem on behalf of an organisation.

You might see a need for a new product and decide to start up a business yourself – as a Brighton student, you will get support from the business start-up team. And after you graduate, you could become a Knowledge Transfer Associate, going into a business to manage an innovation project, under the guidance of an academic supervisor from the University of Brighton. The possibilities are endless.

Brighton is known for its dynamic approach to social purpose. And our values of creativity, inclusivity, sustainability and partnership are embodied by Knowledge Exchange. Getting involved gives you the opportunity to get experience in new areas, make connections, develop your skills and make a difference.

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