DMU recognised for work with business and graduate start-ups

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is delivering high impact engagement with businesses, graduate start-ups and communities, according to the new Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results.

KEF is a measure of how well universities work with organisations and industry, sharing knowledge and expertise with students, businesses and the public to benefit society as a whole.



Results published today show that DMU has increased its overall performance by 11% compared to 2021, when the first KEF results were released – either improving or retaining its position in six out of seven key areas.

The areas, known as perspectives, are: research partnerships; working with business; working with public and third sector; CPD and graduate start-ups; local growth and regeneration; IP and commercialisation and public and community engagement.

When compared with its peer group in cluster ‘E’ (large universities with a broad portfolio of courses), DMU shows:

•    very high engagement for CPD training and graduate start-ups

•    high engagement for research partnerships, as measured by co-authorship with non-academic partners and contributions to collaborative research

•    high engagement for public and community engagement  

You can see a full breakdown of DMU’s performance by logging onto the KEF dashboard here.

Helen Donnellan, PVC Regional Business and Innovation, said: “It is encouraging to see the improvement in our position compared to 2021, which was the first time that the KEF had been used to try to track and quantify work outside of research and teaching.

“Knowledge exchange is an increasingly important part of the work we all do at DMU, from arranging internships or mentoring, supporting student start-ups, and supporting businesses to innovate and grow.

“Our Empowering University strategy sets out our commitment to knowledge creation and partnerships with purpose which underpin this vital work.”



DMU’s KEF results are compiled using data from the HE-BCIS return, which tracks how UK universities work with businesses, communities and the public sector. The data used for this report is from 2019/20 and covers the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also demonstrates the diversity of universities that support the government’s key national and global priorities through these activities. The KEF is recognised by government as “valuable to capture contributions to economic growth, such as place and civic contributions” and plays an important part in driving forwards these agendas.

The KEF has been developed by Research England, a public body who fund Higher Education Institutions to undertake research and knowledge exchange.

David Sweeney CBE, Executive Chair of Research England, said: “Knowledge exchange is integral to the mission and purpose of our universities, and its importance in contributing to societal and economic prosperity is strongly supported by the Government.

“Today’s new version of the Knowledge Exchange Framework takes further forward the vision and potential of KE activity, providing richer evidence to demonstrate universities’ strengths in different areas when set alongside their peers.”