February 5, 2021, by Abigail Rowse

What Is a KTP and Why Should You Consider It?

By Abdelaziz Fadoul, KTP Associate at the University of Nottingham

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) offer you the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges. They are a three-way partnership between an organisation, a university, and a graduate or postgraduate (known as a KTP Associate). Projects are varied, spanning all academic disciplines and organisations of any size and in any industry. 

I am a KTP Associate working on a collaborative project between the University of Nottingham and Fullflow Group Limited (FGL). The goal of this project is to bring the latest technologies developed in my field to FGL. This enables the business, as innovators, to maintain its position at the forefront of the drainage systems industry.

Make your impact

KTP projects give you the opportunity to put what you’ve learned in your degree into practice by solving real-world business challenges. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”, as aptly said by the author John C. Maxwell. This simple maxim reflects my KTP experience as I have been able to extend my professional research and education in the field of digital technologies and their applications to solve real problems. The KTP scheme has given me the chance to use my knowledge and expertise to make a difference for my host company. It has also provided me with the necessary resources, valuable support from experts in my field, and an opportunity to access training.

Academia or industry?

Have you ever asked yourself if you want to continue in academia or move into industry and build a new career? Well, I have many times. As a KTP Associate, I act as the bridge between both worlds. The majority of my project is spent at the company, allowing me to transfer and embed new knowledge whilst also working closely with an academic team. The KTP scheme is a perfect example of collaboration between academia and industry. It gives me the opportunity to experience working in both areas, as well as observing projects from both commercial and academic perspectives.

Connect with like-minded people

KTP projects are undertaken by universities and businesses from across the UK. As part of the KTP scheme, you get to attend residential modules with a cohort of other KTP Associates who start their projects at the same time as you. In these modules, I learned key commercial skills such as problem-solving and financial budget management to help me to manage my project. The chance to meet other KTP Associates was a great experience. Whilst we were all working on different projects with different organisations, we were unified in one goal: using state-of-the-art knowledge and strong technical skills to tackle real-world challenges. I realised that I was actually part of a diverse network of talented people, who were all experts in their fields.

Develop yourself for a brighter future

There are lots of great opportunities to develop yourself. Firstly, there is a budget allocated specifically for your personal training and development. There are also many skills developed when working with the executive management of the company and leading academics. For example, I developed management skills and attended residential modules and conferences. These experiences all help to prepare future innovators and business leaders.

The KTP has significantly boosted my career, enhanced my skills and knowledge, and extended my professional network. My role has empowered me to accomplish a lot early on in my career, including being endorsed as a global talent in digital technologies by Tech Nation. I’ll be taking my experience as a KTP Associate into an exciting new role working as a Data Specialist to deliver one of Britain’s flagship engineering projects: HS2.

KTP is an Innovate UK funded programme. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit our webpage or send them an email.  If you want to discuss your options, consider booking a careers appointment with your Careers team.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on LinkedIn