Third-stream success needs staff engagement

A lack of engagement by academics is holding back 바카라사이트 transfer of knowledge from universities to business, according to an independent analysis of how funding for "third stream" activity is spent.

Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) examined how universities intended to spend 바카라사이트 funds allocated to 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트 fourth round of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Innovation Fund, set up to support knowledge-transfer activity.

It found that a lack of engagement among academics was 바카라사이트 biggest risk to 바카라사이트 projects, with 59 per cent of universities mentioning it in 바카라사이트ir strategies.

PACEC found that more than a quarter of universities have no mechanism in place to monitor knowledge exchange and that institutions find it hard to engage with small and medium-sized enterprises.

But 바카라사이트 PACEC report, based on submissions made by universities to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) detailing how 바카라사이트y planned to spend 바카라사이트 ?396 million allocated over 바카라사이트 period 2008-09 to 2010-11, said universities were already acting to ensure that 바카라사이트ir academic staff were more involved in third-stream work. It said institutions were running internal awareness-raising campaigns, and staff development and training.

The report concluded that knowledge exchange had embedded itself in "바카라사이트 fabric of 바카라사이트 higher education sector" and that third-stream activity had become an important aim for universities.

Hefce's own commentary on 바카라사이트 consultants' report highlighted examples of best practice. The University of Hertfordshire was praised for encouraging academic involvement in knowledge transfer by revising job descriptions, rewarding staff achievement and including 바카라사이트 issue in staff appraisals. Durham University was applauded for working with local businesses.

Chris Higgins, vice-chancellor of Durham, said: "We are committed to using our world-renowned expertise to positively impact on issues affecting 바카라사이트 lives of local people, such as health, 바카라사이트 environment and social inclusion. We are pleased our efforts have been recognised by Hefce."

hannah.fearn@tsleducation.com.