13 October 2026

 

Being one of the UK’s smallest universities doesn’t hold the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) back when it comes to working with businesses, according to the results of this year’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) assessment.

The annual exercise, conducted by Research England, measures how successful university providers are at knowledge exchange with business and the local community, and the RAU was ranked top of the class for working with businesses through grants, contracts, and consultancy. 

For the fifth year in succession, since the survey started in 2021, the Cotswold-based University has maintained its position in the top three institutions for specialist science universities, outperforming its peer group in agricultural science. 

The University, which is part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) group of 11 small specialist universities and institutes in the health, engineering, and agricultural sectors, also performed well in public engagement, continuous professional development, and graduate start-ups. 

RAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter McCaffery said: “This is a major accolade for the RAU. We have performed well above our peers over the last five years, and make a significant contribution to the growth of businesses in the land and agricultural sector and in the economy more widely. 

“A modern University like the RAU is more than just an educational institution – it is also a powerhouse of innovation and collaboration with industry, not just locally and nationally but also through our global partnerships. 

“We are very proud of our graduate successes in setting up new enterprises and how we have significantly increased our provision for professional training to give the workforce the skills that they need.”

 

Notes: The Knowledge Exchange Framework (this year is KEF6) is an annual review of Knowledge Exchange activity during 2025-26 which is published annually by Research England.

The KEF plays a key role in providing unique and important public information on the rich and diverse ways in which English universities continue to engage with society and our economy, locally, nationally, and internationally.