Researcher development: the impact of undergraduate research opportunity programmes on students in the UK

Undergraduate research opportunity programmes (UROP) are common in North America where research has confirmed their benefits. These schemes are gaining ground in the UK, and this article provides evidence for how UK students are benefiting from the experience. Results suggest UROP makes a significan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inStudies in higher education (Dorchester-on-Thames) Vol. 36; no. 7; pp. 781 - 797
Main Authors John, Joanna, Creighton, John
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 01.11.2011
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Career Development
College Instruction
College students
Confidence
Foreign Countries
Graduate studies
Graduates
Higher education
Learning
Liberal Arts
Minicourses
North America
Outcomes of Education
Program Descriptions
Program Effectiveness
research careers
research experience
Research Methodology
Research Opportunities
Research programmes
Research Skills
research-based learning
research-teaching nexus
Science Careers
STEM Education
Student Attitudes
Student Research
Student Surveys
Students
Summer Programs
undergraduate research opportunity programme (UROP)
Undergraduate Students
United Kingdom
University research
United Kingdom
North America
United Kingdom > UK
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Summary:Undergraduate research opportunity programmes (UROP) are common in North America where research has confirmed their benefits. These schemes are gaining ground in the UK, and this article provides evidence for how UK students are benefiting from the experience. Results suggest UROP makes a significant contribution to the research capabilities and confidence of participating students, boosting their understanding of both research and their own subjects. Whilst offering considerable benefits to student learning, there is no evidence that UROP schemes on their current small scale attract additional students to postgraduate research, since the majority that participate are already interested in postgraduate study. However, at an individual level, most students report increased confidence and appreciation of the realities of the research process, and desire to progress on to postgraduate study following the placement, indicating that schemes may have the potential to cultivate new research confidence and interest if expanded.
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ISSN:0307-5079
1470-174X
DOI:10.1080/03075071003777708