Whether you’re looking to upskill and improve your general understanding of Knowledge Exchange, learn all about the many inspiring KE activities that are happening today, or simply want to discover a support network of like-minded people — then this article is for you.

As the new year fast approaches, we’ve rounded up some of the most exciting events in the KE space to pencil in the diary! Keep reading to find out more.

Changing Culture: Knowledge Exchange, Policy and Practice

📅 When and where: Online- Thursday 13th October, 14:00 - 15:30 BST

By: NCACE (National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange)

The lack of diversity in the UK media landscape continues to be a problem. For a region as multicultural as the United Kingdom, having a media industry that reflects its population is critical to the fundamental freedom of expression.

Spearheading a new research centre aimed at examining diversity across the UK’s media is the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC). The independent body looks at representation across the industry, including journalism, acting, film, TV and radio in both front-of-house and behind-the-scenes roles.

Since launching in 2020, the LHC has produced research for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and others, helping to impact their understanding, approach and output around improving representation. The Centre also offers yearly fellowship awards that enable working media professionals to collaborate with university scholars to conduct research leveraging their connections and inside expertise. This research has sparked debate within the media sector and, in some cases, changed how things are done.

In this online talk, Director of LHC Professor Diane Kemp will share an overview of the Centre’s key work and projects, with an emphasis on how their collaborations with the broadcasting sector are helping to change the face of British Television.

Register for the free event here.

Tools for Leading Cross-Sector Collaborations

📅 When and where: Online- Monday 10th October, 14:00 - 15:30 BST

By: NCACE

Cross-sector collaborations can be immensely challenging. The teams involved can often experience barriers to success including a lack of shared language, and misunderstanding around complex funding and policy. It can take a lot of time and resources to create successful collaborations, and both of those things are frequently in short supply.

The Manchester Metropolitan University Good Employment Learning Lab has been researching the best ways to assist project leaders in creating a collaborative toolbox and has discovered what works. To find out how skills coaching, peer learning, and masterclasses might help people who work in a variety of circumstances, researchers have tested and experimented with them across different contexts.

'Flash Peer Learning' has emerged as a helpful tool for encouraging people to share their challenges and encourage one another in coming up with creative solutions.

Intrigued? Fortunately for you, in this free interactive session Sarah Acton and Jennie Shorely from Manchester Met University will be sharing the low down of what flash peer learning is and how your team can implement it to enhance collaboration. Expect to learn all the details including which low-cost, high-impact tools will support your collaborative work.

Register for the free event here.

Foundations of Knowledge Exchange

📅 When and where: Online- 31st October - 10th November

By: PraxisAuril

Are you new to a Knowledge Exchange role within higher education or a research organisation? Or perhaps you have experience in a certain aspect of KE but want to explore the wider context and other modes of Knowledge Exchange? If so, then this online course from Praxis Auril is for you!

Taking place across five AM sessions, from the end of this month through to the 10th of November, delegates will have the opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of the KE landscape, the different forms of interactions that can take place between universities and businesses, and the drivers around different aspects of KE.

Discover more about this event here.

Neurodiversity Knowledge Exchange

📅 When and where: Online- Thursday 13th October, 18:30 -19:30 BST

By: Embrace Neurodiversity Ltd

As the world evolves, businesses and institutions are realising the critical importance of neurodiversity.

Embrace Neurodiversity is an organisation that aims to support businesses in taking their neuro-inclusive practice to the next level and unlocking the full potential of teams through training, consultancy, accreditation and more.

In this free meet-up session hosted by Embrace Neurodiversity, professionals are invited to come together with neurodiversity advocates to share their successes and challenges around inclusion and neurodiversity and come up with solutions for those challenges. Participants are invited to bring along a question based on real challenges so that the group can discuss together ways to overcome them, in a non-judgemental safe space.

Experience a sense of belonging from a like-minded group, feel comfortable enough to ask questions and share stories, and make new connections to help make an impact.

Find out more about this free event here.

Agile University Leadership for a New Era of Progress

📅 When and where: Hybrid- Wednesday 16th November - Friday 18th November

By: Times Higher Education (THE)

The role which universities play in shaping the world we live in cannot be understated.

Universities are gatherers and developers of talent and a hotbed of ideas where exceptional minds come together to solve problems and advance our society and economic well-being. Not to mention the billions of pounds invested in research to help improve the Earth. With such importance, the effective leadership and management of these institutions are critical.

The THE Leadership & Management Summit 2022 will focus on the leadership and management of higher institutions, the challenges that the leaders of today face, and what they can do to best prepare for the years ahead. The agenda includes exploring the following questions:

• How can universities and their management structures come together to redesign a higher education model fit for students, staff and society?
• What are the key leadership skills that will be required to run successful higher education institutions in the future?
• How can the next generation of university leaders develop the skills or receive the necessary training to meet the challenges they will face?

In addition to the above, participants can look forward to an exclusive live reveal of the THE World Reputation Rankings 2022 — a report that showcases the top universities with the best reputations, as judged by academics around the world!

View the full agenda of this KE event here.