Universities can play a leading role in stimulating social and economic growth and contributing to innovations in science and technology. Going further than their core assignment of teaching and research, universities can work in partnership with businesses and civil society to engender knowledge replaces initiatives.
By means of opening communication and facilitating an exchange of ideas amid diverse communities and institutions, knowledge exchange provide research to influence policy formulation and for academics to contribute to ideas with business and government.
The knowledge exchange initiative involves the formulation of the first strategic plan of knowledge exchange for higher education, training for knowledge exchange teams, and office of research and innovation. Additionally, it allows the NCEA to tie university funding to achievements in the field of community, society and business interactions.