Abstract
As a pathway for ‘engaged scholarship,’ or knowledge co-production between Higher Education and industry, management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (mKTPs) represent a tripartite model that links theory to practice (Lock 2022; Van de Ven 2018). However, mKTPs have traditionally focused on private sector organisations, resulting in difficulties for Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) to meet the financial criterion for KTP funding. This paper therefore aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with mKTPs within the Third Sector from the perspectives of the KTP Associate, Routes To Work and the University of the West of Scotland. As will be discussed, these opportunities and challenges have been framed based on funding and expertise; multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral co-production; and capacity building. Although the paper highlights potential difficulties associated with capacity and investment, the outlined experiences elucidate the benefits associated with the mKTP model within a Third Sector Organisation.