The ability of small and specialist providers to forge links with industry is being hampered by “systemic barriers and regulatory instability”, a report has warned.
Although many UK institutions have already forged successful partnerships with employers, this is often despite the “structural features of the system” conspiring against them, Independent Higher Education (IHE) found.
Its report, published on 10 August, cites “regulatory cycles that cannot keep pace with industry change, outcome measures that do not capture how many of their graduates’ careers develop, and funding and assessment models built around scale and place” that put many of its members at a disadvantage.
Based on a series of interviews and focus groups, the report finds that the obstacles make contributions to the UK’s growth agenda more laborious, resource-heavy and expensive, with “targeted policy change” necessary to unleash greater potential.
One key ask is for UK Research and Innovation to review eligibility for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships to allow small and specialist providers to participate as “knowledge base partners”.
