Although the term 'knowledge exchange' is a relatively recent one, the activity of sharing ideas and knowledge between 'town and gown' was central to the School's raison-d'etre from the outset.

The establishment of the University Settlement in 1905 demonstrated the importance of the relationship between the university and its local community.

The creation of the School of Social Study and Training in 2018 was itself a partnership between the Town Council and the University of Edinburgh.