Undergraduate Research www.derby.ac.uk jiscCAN Scholarship Scheme - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Students as Co-Producers in Undergraduate Research www.derby.ac.uk

⧣ jiscCAN Scholarship Scheme URSS The Undergraduate Research A Co-Created Approach to Transforming Research Chris Wilson Dr Ruth Ayres Przemek Komarnicki Learning Experience Manager Dean of Learning Enhancement URSS Student URSS Coordinator URSS Chair Learning Enhancement Learning Enhancement

WELCOME to #URSS2017 • UG research in Higher Education • What is URSS and how does this operate? • Benefits to staff and students • The URSS experience • EXERCISE: Design your own UG Research Scheme

Undergraduate research in HE • Is research hierarchical? – Do Undergraduate students do Coursework whilst Postgrad’s and Academics do Research ? (Bowers & Parameswaran 2013)

Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies The UClan Journal of Undergraduate Research http://www.bcur.org/reinvention/ www.uclan.ac.uk/diffusion Undergraduate Journal of Politics http://www.bcur.org/journals/index.php/JQRSS and International Relations (UJPIR) http://www.ajuronline.org/ http://ujpir.ubiquitypress.com/ The Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal http://www.bcur.org/student- journal/kent-student-law-review/ http://surj.stanford.edu/journal-archives-2/

Undergraduate research in HE • Is research hierarchical? – Do Undergraduate students do Coursework whilst Postgrad’s and Academics do Research ? (Bowers & Parameswaran 2013) • Is empirical study of UG research rigorous enough? – Too much focus on self-report surveys and not enough on measurable gains in research skills and capabilities? (Linn et al. 2015) • What is undergraduate research for? – Is UG research for knowledge , communication, teamwork, leadership? (Carter et al. 2015) • Why do research skills matter? – Experiential study through Undergraduate research creates high impact learning (Zimbardi & Myatt, 2012)

Typologies of research-based pedagogy* *Adapted from Ackrill (2015) and Healey and Jenkins (2009). Reflects Griffiths (2004) original 'led, 'orientated', and 'based'. Later updated by Healey (2005, in Barnett, R) to add 'research tutored'.

Research-orientated Research-based Learning and teaching activities focused Learning activity centred on applied and on development of research techniques immersive student- and skills of enquiry led research activity Research-informed Research-led Learning and teaching strategies Curriculum and pedagogy derived from underpinned and informed by relevant or closely connected to current research in the subject and/or with the teacher’s pedagogic research and curriculum mapped directly connected to relevant disciplinary research/practice. disciplinary research and professional Curriculum designed to support benchmarks research

Why URSS?: Undergraduate research in HE Complex problem solving, Critical Thinking and Creativity identified as the top 3 skills for employment by 2020 (2016) “Businesses look first and foremost for graduates with the right attitudes and aptitudes to enable them to be effective in the workplace” (2015) “Half of employers say new employees struggle with teamwork and problem solving” (2017) Gold TEF award dependent on students being “frequently engaged with developments from the forefront of research, scholarship or practice” (2017)

What is URSS and how does this operate?

URSS 2013-2017 • “Live” Research Brief • 6- 10 weeks’ FT (or PT equivalent) • HEAR / CV / Derby’s Futures Award • Dissemination opportunity – University’s Learning & Teaching Conference Staff-Student Number Academic Student Led Staff Led Scheme Joint of Year Applications Applications Total Applications awards 2013-14 0 32 4 36 27 2014-15 2 49 0 51 39 2015-16 17 42 3 62 38 2016-17 31 28 n/a 59 40 Scheme 50 151 7 208 144 Total

URSS projects and timeline Open to Triggers Triggers Student students funding funding Research and staff release release Journal 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. URSS Call for URSS Panel Ethical Research Progress Conference Future Proposals Review approval activity report presentation publication Annual Cross- Fieldwork, Learning & college lab work, Teaching review desk- Conference panel based January March April June July

78% Benefits of URSS 100% - Directly influenced “Helped subsequent studies… prepare me for final year Independent Study” 66% 95% - Have active plans STUDENTS to publish research - Would actively Developing recommend URSS specialist to other students knowledge and research skills Opportunity to Transferable skills present and Experience and Employability Developing publish research life as a research researcher proposals Student led Staff led Aligning Extending Fresh Pipeline for research and Extended research research PGR and the collaboration capacity perspectives PGT curriculum STAFF

URSS Outputs

Project insights -Przemek Komarnicki • Getting involved with URSS • Working with academic staff • Managing the research • Key research findings • Preparing to present • Impact on studies

The student experience “I feel I have more confidence in my ability “I learnt how to work within a team, designate to design an appropriate experiment, this roles and collaborate to get things done in a has helped me with my IS project, and short amount of time. Also how to articulate also calms my nerves about having to language to discuss our project with people .” conduct research at postgraduate level, “It was a great experience that gave an insight which is where I aim to go next .” into the world of research. Up to this point my university career has been very theoretical and “Insightful and exceptional .” classroom based, with the exception of internships, so it was good to step away and use “The URSS is a fantastic opportunity for the theory in an applied manner .” students to research a topic of interest, resulting in the acquisition of a vast array “I gained skills within researching, writing and of skills, some of which include: critical presenting work in correct formats, how to thinking, problem-solving and decision- convert data into a visual aid and how to present making .” work to other scholars .” “Doesn ´t have to become an experience “Great experience to work on real research with that influences your approach to your a professional research team, great feeling to study and career - but probably will .” get financial acknowledgement in addition to the research experience and acknowledgement for one´s efforts by the team.”

Exercise Design your own scheme 1. Select an approach or devise an Aims Select • To explore the original approach using the cards scheme distinctiveness of funded approaches research in different HE contexts; • To explore different ways of 2. working with students; Think carefully about the Discuss and • To devise an original UG institutional context refine research scheme. scheme 3. Devise a Think about identity name for the scheme 4. Share your scheme! Share your scheme

Exercise Design your 15 mins discussion own scheme 2. 5. 1. 3. 4. How is the Sharing Who is Application Research scheme research involved? funded & process activity insights launched?  All UG  Central scheme?  Paper-based  In the field?  External  Devolved scheme  In the lab? students? application? conferences?  Stage 1, 2 or 3  Competitive  Live projects?  Internal (College/Faculty  Discipline-based, only? level)? pitching event? conference?  Students only?  Launched by staff  Central  Student-led interdisciplinary or  Students and for students? applications? extradisciplinary? conference?  Launched by  By nomination/as  External projects?  Collaboratively staff?  External  When in the students for staff? prize? between HEIs?  Collaborative?  Devolved  Journal stakeholders? teaching year?  Other?  Budget?  Short/intensive or applications (to publication?  Other?  Other? funded staff longer term?  Other? projects)?  How much funding?  Other?

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry THANK YOU Any Questions? Dr Ruth Ayres Chris Wilson Przemek Komarnicki Dean of Learning Enhancement Learning Experience Manager URSS Student URSS Chair URSS Coordinator Learning Enhancement Learning Enhancement E: URSS@derby.ac.uk | W: www.derby.ac.uk/urss