National results highlight Solent's professional skills, entrepreneurship and research impact

Published annually by Research England, KEF assesses how effectively universities share their knowledge, expertise and research with businesses, public services, communities and wider society.

The latest results highlight Solent's continued strength in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and graduate start-up support, demonstrating the university's commitment to lifelong learning, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Across four years of KEF results, these areas have remained among the university's strongest areas of performance.

A significant proportion of Solent's CPD activity is delivered through its internationally recognised maritime provision, helping seafarers, shipping professionals and maritime organisations develop the specialist skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. Through Warsash Maritime School, the university supports thousands of professionals throughout their careers, reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in maritime education and training.

Solent's broader commitment to practice-led learning ensures that students and professionals alike benefit from real world experience, industry partnerships and teaching that is closely aligned to employer needs. This supports the university's ambition to create graduates who are career-ready from day one and equipped to succeed in an evolving workforce.

Alongside these established strengths, the latest KEF results show significant growth in research partnerships, highlighting the increasing role that collaboration plays in the university's impact.

This growth is being driven by projects that are delivering benefits nationally and locally. Solent is a partner in the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub (UK-MaRes Hub), a consortium of 13 universities working with industry partners to support the transition to cleaner and more sustainable shipping through research into future fuels, low-carbon technologies and more efficient maritime operations.

Closer to home, the university is a key partner in HDRC Southampton, a collaboration led by Southampton City Council that is helping to tackle health inequalities across the city by strengthening the use of research and evidence in local decision making and working closely with communities to improve health and wellbeing.

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Academic Strategy and Planning, Professor Cathy Barnes, said:

"These results demonstrate the important role Solent plays in creating positive change through education, research and partnership. We're proud to support people at every stage of their journey, whether that's a professional looking to develop new skills, a graduate launching a business, or an organisation seeking innovative solutions through research collaboration.

"Our success in Continuing Professional Development reflects the strength of our practice-led approach and our deep connections with industry, particularly in the maritime sector where we have a long standing global reputation. By combining real-world learning with strong employer partnerships, we're helping students become career-ready while also supporting businesses and communities to adapt, grow and thrive."