The establishment of a multi-disciplinary undergraduate research internship scheme at the University of Central

Lancashire (UCLan)

Professor Stuart Hampton-reeves

Dr Mandy Dillon

The Centre for Research-informed Teaching

Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme

• Now in its third year

• Opportunity for students to work on ‘real research’ projects

• Staff put in project bids

• Students apply to do the projects

• Real research outcomes

• Huge project diversity

The scheme is very successful

• QAA Institutional Audit (2008)

‘raised the research aspirations of

undergraduate students’.

• Intern places are extremely popular.

2010

• over 350 applications for 50 intern places

• covering 35 different areas of research

‘testing for novel selective NMDA receptor antagonists as potential drugs to treat migraines’.

‘developing an engineering outreach programme and E-learn portal with local Schools and Colleges’.

‘performing an environmental sustainability audit for selected UCLan buildings’.

‘What is the future of the book’.

What’s in it for them?Helps to create Multi skilled graduates

Critical thinking skills

Transferable skills

Confidence

Better informedEnthusiastic

Technical Skills

Experience

Further Study

Employability

What’s in it for us?

Attracts students to the University

Produces mature resourceful graduates

Encourages further study

Increases Employability?

Increases motivation

What the students think

Students fill out evaluation form and keep a reflective log throughout the project

The future for university graduates?

Student Internships

• Pioneered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the 1960s

• Common in America

• UK much more limited

• Similar schemes in a few other institutions in the UK including Warwick and Oxford Brookes

National Conference for Undergraduate Research

(USA) 2010

NCUR

BCUR

British Conference of Undergraduate Research 2011

Thank you

Questions?