GHAFOORI, Nader1 & HONAKER, Rick Q.2
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Southern Illinois University, nader@engr.siu.edu
2 Department of Mining & Mineral Resources Engineering, Southern Illinois University, honaker@engr.siu.edu
Abstract: This paper discusses the methods and importance of incorporating research into undergraduate education. Through student participation and follow-up discussions, it was found that students recognized and appreciated the importance of research as an integral part of the overall educational experience.
Keywords: research, undergraduate, education, integration, engineering
It has been widely recognized that the economical development and well-being of
a nation is strongly tied to its scientific/scholarly research which leads to an emergence of new technologies or products. Higher educational institutions in every nation throughout the world have been the main resources of novel ideas and the necessary research required to produce commercially viable products. Examples of sustained economical
prosperities are in existence today in the countries that maintain technological advances through sustained research productivities in art, science, and engineering.
In addition to housing and conducting research programs, higher education institutions have the main purpose of providing future scientists and engineers with the knowledge and ability to apply advanced novel ideas and technologies for the benefit of mankind. Incorporating research activities and their findings into undergraduate education are considered an integral component in optimizing the educational mission of higher learning institutions.
This paper familiarizes the reader with the importance of engineering research in education and the methodologies used to incorporate research activities into undergraduate education. It is hoped that the four components introduced in this paper can provide strong arguments to promote the inclusion of research in undergraduate education.
Research is a required component of many higher education institutions, representing an overall educational quality that can be offered. Figure 1 describes the loop in which research is expected to contribute to undergraduate education. The cycle involves (1) the identification of research importance, (2) the influence of research in undergraduate curriculums, (3) the actual integration of research into undergraduate education, and (4) the realization of the benefits evolved from such activities.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram illustrating the cycle of incorporation and contribution of research in undergraduate education.
Historically, higher institutions have been the source of novel ideas and inventions through fundamental and applied research, thus, ultimately impacting our society. This fact has never been more evident than the post-WWII era during which research funding at engineering institutions has increased exponentially. Recently, the research activities in higher education have attracted negative publicity due to its perceived priority over quality undergraduate education. However, there remains ample arguments on the importance of research in an academic environment. The importance of research can be summarized as (1) the development of inventions, novel theories, and/or global concepts which benefit mankind, (2) the provision of an environment which is conducive for continual learning and discovery for university professors, (3) the production of future scholars, (4) the stimulation of interest in graduate education, and (5) the generation of a positive image for the faculty, department, college, and university which, in return, attracts quality students and faculty.
While there exists sufficient evidence pertaining to the importance of research, its contribution to quality undergraduate education is yet to be fully recognized. The integration of research into undergraduate education may result in (1) clarity of the subject matter for students, (2) added value products generated from the universities albeit the graduating students, (3) introduction of the state-of-the-art technology and information, and (4) identification of the students’ learning potential to perform advanced studies.
The negative publicity associated with university research has been derived, in part, by the lack of integration of the research and its outcomes into undergraduate education. Incorporating the research into the classroom can be achieved through (1) inclusion in lecture and notes, (2) using the products of research in cap-stone design projects and (3) inviting researchers to present seminars on specialized projects. Independent study courses can be used to allow students to investigate the topics and outcomes of past or on-going research activities at the universities. The understanding of research topics can be further enhanced by providing opportunities for the students to attend and participate in technical sessions of the annual meetings of professional engineering societies. Furthermore, ultimate method of ensuring the full benefit of research in education is to involve the students in the research program. This can be achieved by including the students as part of a team of researchers (e.g., graduate students, research assistants, post-doctoral fellows) in the performance of the research tasks and/or placing students into internships and co-op relationships with the industries involved in research and development.
By successfully realizing the importance of university research activities and incorporating the research into the classroom, a number of significant benefits can be realized and are summarized as follows (1) establishment of a linkage between undergraduate and graduate education, (2) enhancement in the depth of knowledge and confidence of students, (3) increase in employment opportunities for graduating underclassmen, (4) improvement and assistance in student recruitment and retention, (5) enhancement of graduate education through improved student quality and knowledge on importance of research, (6) improvement in the value of undergraduate education overall, (7) assistance in the continuous learning and discovery process of professors and (8) production of the next generation of researchers for new discoveries and inventions for betterment of mankind.
The methodologies to include research in undergraduate curriculums, as cited earlier, were tried in a number of academic terms. The participating undergraduate students found the program to be successful and rewarding both in terms of overall educational experience and job opportunities. Integrating research into undergraduate curriculum: (1) generated excitement and provided a better understanding of the subject matter, (2) promoted the use of research in students’ professional career, and (3) developed interest in pursuing advanced studies.
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