Going URB@N: exploring the impact of undergraduate students as pedagogic researchers

Abstract

This paper reports on the impact for students of an institutional scheme designed to involve undergraduate students in pedagogic research. Through Undergraduate Research Bursaries at Northampton, students are funded to work as researchers on pedagogic projects in partnership with academic staff. Drawing on data from a larger longitudinal mixed method study, we report findings which demonstrate the positive impact of the scheme for undergraduate learners in terms of new relationships with academic staff; enhanced research skills and career development, thus making a valuable contribution to the enhancement of the student experience. We argue that facilitating undergraduate involvement in pedagogic research enhances both a commitment to, and an engagement with, the scholarship of teaching and learning across an institution, and thus contributes to a growing community of pedagogic practice centred on the student voice.

Keywords:

• pedagogic research
• undergraduate research
• scholarship
• linking research and teaching
• research-teaching nexus
• research bursaries
• student experience
• employability