While giving a core research work to the undergraduate student, I was asked by one of the senior researchers that this is not a good practice. I am unsure the reason behind same rather I consider it more relevant if the students get involved in the actual work at an early stage that may result in a quality work in a field later on. What do you think? what should be the level of work assigned to undergraduate students as their project?
Depending upon the time your undergraduate students have till their thesis, I am convinced that it is not a bad idea. Class projects within a semester can be a long shot though. In my experience it is less motivating for undergrads to follow up and write a publishable work on it though. They loose interest once the assigned timeline is finished.
I agree, We should give real research problem to even undergraduate students.
It is a good practice, an efficient approach in grooming students in research. However, it should be done subtly and gradually so as not to wow the students or suck all their time for other academically important tasks.
Yes, we know "oceans are being recharged by rivers".
Being post doctorate researcher, one shall suprvise preliminary work of partinent core objectives. The practice shall contribute in peer mentoring, grooming scholars, nurturing research nursery, and demonstrates "research shadow".
Thank you for your important responses.
Dr. k. Karthik,
I am not completely agree that in India students are doing high level research work. Could you support your claim with a few publications from Indian undergraduate students (at least as coauthor)..they are rare.
Reason for same is students have limited exposure to real research, even in IIT and NIT (I am pass-out of) undergraduate students are not much aware about major research journals and involved in preparation of GATE, CAT etc. Research is nowhere in the picture, this is one of the major reason why a country with such a huge population of engineers is not the best in technology.
If supervisor will be physical and practically involved, why not. But we should remember that there is limit to independent work that can be done by the students at that level.
It is good to assign research tasks to undergraduate students in their course projects, work practice and diploma thesis. It is positive that they join with their professors in research groups in research pyramids, integrating research to postgraduate and undergraduate studies.
From my nearly 50 years of experience at one of the secondary universities not as well known for research, California State Polytechnic University, it is very important to give UG students the maximum of lab technique time and learning both in the regular curriculum and in special research classes. Then it is critically important to have them join, in their junior year or even before, an ongoing research team. By the time they graduate they have two years of training in the lab protocols of the specific Professor's research interest (which presumably they are also interested in) and makes them more valuable to that research team when they join the graduate student ranks. At our university, we offer special extra unit research classes, and by the time they graduate, they could have earned upwards of 12 or more direct research course credits toward their degree. As in the Research Pyramid of the last response (which I support), these large UG research teams are worth the time and training by the Specialist Professor.
Most of us are agreed on graduate students should be given core research task. Now, If directly telling students about the core problem and possible approach for solution kills the creativity or it saves time ?
Students must be informed about the priority research programs and lines, the research projects and the research group in which they are developed, so that they can be incorporated, guaranteeing the structure and correct functioning of the research pyramids.
The central problem and its possible solution is part of the research that they must carry out.
It is a very good practice to give core research program to undergraduate students as the initiative grooms the younger generation to take up hardcore research and also a possibility of a new dimension to the work as seasoned researchers have one track thinking whereas the youngsters have a different way of thinking.
I think this practice is good. If they can not accomplish the target, they will definitely learn the advancement / tools about the project. Some time you never know, they can perform extra ordinary as well. So, as academics we should always move forward.
There should not be limited or pigeonholed undergraduate students. Research is the beginning of a wide spectrum of answers or new challenging questions, a world to discover awaits us.
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