HSU Announces Commitment to the KE Concordat

Following the recent announcement of Health Sciences University’s (HSU) outcomes in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) exercise, HSU is proud to announce its formal commitment to the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Concordat, joining a national initiative to strengthen the culture, infrastructure and impact of KE across UK universities. The Concordat is built around eight guiding principles designed to support the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and resources. It provides a clear framework that helps universities, staff, and students understand their role in driving innovation, economic growth, and societal benefit, while strengthening both institutional and individual capacity to achieve meaningful impact.

By signing the KE Concordat, HSU is confirming its commitment to continue to embed KE into its core mission, enabling staff and students to collaborate effectively with external partners and translate research into tangible societal benefits.

Professor Lesley Haig, Vice Chancellor, said:
“By signing the KE Concordat, HSU reaffirms its strategic commitment to fostering a culture where KE is embedded across all aspects of university life. This includes strengthening leadership, policies, and infrastructure that enable our staff and students to work collaboratively with external partners and deliver real-world impact. Our research and KE activities are making a tangible difference to communities across Dorset, London, and beyond. From supporting health innovation in regional partnerships to translating research into practice nationally, our alignment to the KE Concordat is strengthening our mission to transform lives through education, applied research, and clinical care.”

Dr Julie Northam, Head of Research, said:
“The KE Concordat provides a framework to embed KE into the heart of our research culture. It ensures that impactful research is supported by the right structures, processes, and incentives. Having a robust KE culture and infrastructure is ensuring that our research can respond directly to population needs. For example, our researchers are supporting communities in Wessex by co-producing health education resources for school pupils, designing and piloting innovative interventions such as a dance-based programme for people with low back pain, and testing rehabilitation programmes for people with multiple long-term conditions. Our on-site clinics are central to our KE infrastructure, offering opportunities for staff and students to collaborate with patients, healthcare partners, and community organisations, translating research into practical services.”

Dr Claire Nadaf, Head of Partnerships and Engagement, said:
“Embedding the principles from the KE Concordat into our new Place, Partnership & Engagement Strategy will allow us to develop the systems and partnerships that make KE part of everything we do. Strengthening our KE culture and infrastructure will enable us to work more effectively with NHS partners, regional networks such as Wessex Health Partners and the Dorset Innovation Hub, and community organisations. This enables us to translate research into practical outcomes, from improving patient rehabilitation to supporting local workforce development in health careers. We are committed to monitoring our KE activity, reflecting on lessons learned, and continuously improving our practice to maximise impact.”

Tamsin Mann, Assistant Director Sector Engagement at KEUK, said:  

“We are delighted that HSU has joined the long list of sector signatories to the KE Concordat, demonstrating the continued importance that higher education providers attach to knowledge exchange alongside their teaching and research missions. We look forward to hearing more about the work they undertake with external partners, with professional staff, and with students as part of this strengthened commitment to knowledge exchange.”

The KEC was launched in 2020 by a sector consortium led by Universities UK and funded by Research England. 126 universities signed up to the principles at its launch. Knowledge Exchange UK has been the home of the KE Concordat since April 2024. You can find out more about the KEC at https://ke.org.uk/ke-concordat/.