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UndergraduateResearch

We are in the process of building a European network for undergraduate research. "We" includes Harald A. Mieg, Susanne Haberstroh, Femi Odebiyi, and many other colleagues in Europe. Every Sunday/Monday for the next two years, I will report briefly on this and, where appropriate, link it to our Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research (doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508)

UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-06-22

UR fosters meaningful transformations within educational communities, strengthening student-faculty partnerships.

This is the result of a study conducted by Nicole Messi and myself, which has just been presented on ConnectUR.

All the best
Harald




From Monday, June 16th to Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, we had the privilege of participating in the 2025 ConnectUR Conference, the annual event organized by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), which was held this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA). Alongside engaging with thought-provoking presentations and best practices shared by our American colleagues, Nicole Messi delivered a talk based on a study conducted in collaboration with Harald Mieg, entitled “Undergraduate Research from the Faculty Perspective: Links Between Their Role with Students in UR and in Lectures.” The presentation aimed to share findings from semi-structured interviews with faculty members involved in Undergraduate Research (UR) initiatives and teaching activities across Europe. Our contribution highlighted how participation in UR serves as a catalyst for faculty reflection on their pedagogical roles and the relationships they cultivate with students, even within the more formal structure of traditional lectures. These findings resonate with the core values promoted by ConnectUR: Undergraduate Research not only deepens students’ engagement with their academic journey but also fosters meaningful transformations within educational communities and institutions, particularly by strengthening student-faculty partnerships. Nicole
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-06-15

EDI vs. Individual Achievement: I am thinking about how to capture this controversy - triggered by Trump - in a simple decision question...

Harald



EDI vs. Individual Achievement: I am thinking about how I can capture the controversy surrounding EDI at universities, as triggered by Trump, in a simple decision question, similar to Fukuyama's question on generalized trust. We could include the question in surveys and examine the attitudes and behaviors associated with it. Help science and universities maintain their independence! Harald P.S. I will soon be sharing this channel with Nicole Messi. She researches Student Voice and is part of the Posters in Brussels team.
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-06-08

Berlin University Alliance. They will join us in organizing POSTER IM BUNDESTAG / the German "Posters in Parliament"-event.

Harald

A few years ago, the major Berlin universities joined forces to better compete with the science hubs in Munich and the ABC region (Aachen-Bonn-Cologne). At the same time, undergraduate research was elevated to the level of the BUA (now the Student Research Opportunities Program, or StuROP). Together with the BUA, we organize "Poster im Bundestag" ("Posters in the German Parliament"). Picture credit: Berlin University Alliance (BUA)
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-06-01

LONDON STATEMENT. For an EVIDENCE-BASED view of the world. I am happy and proud. We have published the London Statement on www.postersinbrussels.eu.
Harald




The London Statement. For an evidence-based view of the world. I am happy and proud. We have published the London Statement on www.postersinbrussels.eu: "Undergraduate research cultivates evidence-based reasoning and experiential learning that is needed more than ever to address increasing global challenges." All the best Harald Signatory institutions and networks: Posters in Brussels (www.postersinbrussels.eu), Europe BCUR British Conference of Undergraduate Research (https://bcur.org.uk), UK CUR Council on Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org), USA AGUR Alliance for Global Undergraduate Research SURE Science Undergraduate Research Experience Network (https://sure-network.ie/), Ireland AG Forschendes Lernen in der dghd (https://dghd.link/agfl), Germany ACUR Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research (https://www.acur.org.au/) As to the picture, see: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/05/fight-for-education-garber-urges-grads/
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-05-25

We need a European network for undergraduate research! This network would allow us to organize meetings like ConnectUR and provide permanent support for Posters in Brussels!

More in the picture description

All the best
Harald


A European NETWORK for undergraduate research (UR)! In a few weeks, ConnectUR—the practitioner meeting on undergraduate research (UR) organized by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)—will take place in Michigan. EUROPE needs something like this, if only to establish "Posters in Brussels" as a permanent fixture (www.postersinbrussels.eu)! For several months, we have been trying to obtain additional funding from foundations so that we can focus entirely on this task. Unfortunately, we have not been successful yet. Do you have any IDEAS? If so, please send them to harald.mieg@geo.hu-berlin.de. Best wishes Harald Picture: https://www.cur.org/events-services/connectur/ (additions by Harald Mieg) The Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): In their chapter on good UR mentoring, Helen Walkington and colleagues emphasize the importance of UR networks (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.019).
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-05-18

STUDENTS as PARTNERS: do ALL students have to participate in ALL university processes. I think not. Participation must be MEANINGFUL. More in the picture description.

All the best
Harald



Students as Partners. When I read about student participation and "Students as Partners," I get the impression that every student is expected to be involved in ALL university processes. This contradicts reality, as well as what is achievable and sensible. At a university, students should be allowed to participate or simply listen. Participation should be MEANINGFUL and achievable. At La Trobe University, this means: "Embedded in the framework, our priorities ensure you have a meaningful role in enhancing your university experience." Picture: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/opportunities/students-as-partners/framework The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Some chapters addres the concept of "students as partners," for example the chapter on the Connected Curriculum at UCL (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.015), but also the chapter on UR in Italy (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.085). All the best Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-05-11

THE EARLIER YOU START RESEARCH at university, the better. This time dimension could complement the "four main ways of engaging students in research and enquiry" by Healey and Jenkins (2009, picture).

More with the picture description.

All the best
Harald

Last week I was in touch with Mick Healey. Identifying the "four main ways of engaging students in research and inquiry" (Healey & Jenkins, 2009, see graph) has been on the minds of me and many colleagues for many years. The term 'research-based' has taken hold, as has the idea of identifying dimensions. The dimension "audience vs. participants" (vertical axis) has many equivalents, e.g. consumers vs. agents, or more or less autonomy for students. Recently, a colleague asked me how to introduce research-based learning into a new master's programme in data science. This reminded me that the earlier you start research at university, the better. How early research starts is another important dimension. The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Some chapters deal with the involvement of freshmen or first-year students in UR (US model at IUPUI, physics, biology, exercise studies, Canada). Particularly impressive are the large, interdisciplinary study projects at the beginning of several study programs at the TU Darmstadt (chapter on interdisciplinary UR, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.094). Picture: Healey, M., & Jenkins, A. (2009). Developing undergraduate research and inquiry. The Higher Education Academy, p. 7. Open access via: https://advance-he.ac.uk/ All the best Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-05-04

Our first "Posters in Parliament" event will take place in Vilnius on 14 October 2025.

More with the picture description

Best wishes
Harald




Vilnius, Lithuania, a foggy winter sunrise (source: Wikipedia). Our first “Posters in Parliament” event will take place on October 14, 2025, in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and its largest city with around 600,000 inhabitants. Preparations are underway. This will be the first event of its kind in Europe after the UK. The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Unfortunately, the chapter on undergraduate research (UR) in the Baltic States did not come to fruition—perhaps it will be included in the next edition. One UR hotspot is the LCC International University, a North American-style university located in Klaipeda in southern Lithuania (www.lcc.lt). The LCC organizes the Lithuanian “Posters in Parliament” event.
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-04-27

Diversity & Inclusion. Here is the summary of our workshop.

More in the picture description.

All the best
Harald




Diversity and Inclusion. EDI (equality/equity, diversity, inclusion) is not currently a high political priority in the US. At the end of March, we held a workshop with experts from each of the five universities involved in our project. The question was: What does inclusion (and, by extension, diversity) mean at universities? It is clear that inclusion is more than accessibility and should include all students. Here is the summary. The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): We know that undergraduate research in general promotes diversity and inclusion (p. 9). The chapter on UR in political science (by Carol Strong, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.042) affirms that course-based UR can provide the diversity needed for political science. All the best Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-04-20

Easter Sunday, Dresden...

Easter Sunday. I am visiting my parents-in-law in Dresden. The picture gives an impression of Dresden in 1945, destroyed by the war, looking south from the town hall tower. It's terrible that there is war again, against cities and even in Europe. All the best, Harald. Photographer: Richard Peter (via Wikipedia).
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-04-14

Student voice, students as citizens: I have been campaigning for student voice - or students as citizens - for over twenty years...

More in the picture description.

All the best
Harald



Student voice, students as citizens: When I worked at ETH Zurich (a great university!) in the 1990s, I experienced what student voice means: the community of teachers and students saw each other as citizens to be treated with respect - this is firmly rooted in the direct democratic culture of Switzerland. At many other universities I have seen that students are (still) treated like big children. That is why I have been campaigning for student voice - or students as citizens - for over twenty years. Picture, "at eye level": ETH student Marton Varga and Peter Hüber, representative of the Board of Directors of Swiss Federal Railways, working together on freight transport scenarios. From the book on the project "Future Rail Switzerland 2 - Ecological Potential of Rail Freight Transport Using the Example of the Lake Zug Region" (2001, translated). Photo: Jenny Oswald. The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): “Student voice”, for example, is discussed in the UK chapter (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.090).
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-04-06

Angela Brew is dead. She was a great inspiration for many of us... More in the picture description.

Harald


Angela Brew is dead. With her energy and intellect, she was a great inspiration to many of us until the end. Her 2006 book “Research and Teaching: Beyond the Divide: Universities into the 21st Century” was a milestone. An obituary of Angela Brew can be found on the website of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (https://www.herdsa.org.au/news/memory-angela-brew). The funeral will take place in the UK on April 17. Angela, thank you! Harald The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Angela was co-editor of the handbook, lead author of the synthesis chapter (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.092), and wrote the chapter on the philosophical view of undergraduate research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.009). Picture: Angela Brew at the World Congress on Undergraduate Research 2019, Oldenburg, Germany (https://uol.de/en/worldcur2019/congress-impressions)
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-03-30

Observation is a great ways to start undergraduate research...

More in the picture description

Harald




Observation. Ten days ago I visited LCC in Lithuania (thanks to Femi!) and saw undergraduates reporting on their observation exercise of campus life. Observation is a great way to start research-based learning. In my opinion, two things are important in such observation exercises: first, to ask what you really saw (what exactly happened?) and what is probably based on your interpretation. Second, what did you not see or what surprised you? Not surprisingly, Design Thinking also begins with observation. All the best Harald Picture: The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508), Table 2.1: In my introduction to Theory and Research on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.005 , with Wolfgang Deicke), I reported on my research into what form of research is suitable for entering into UR. Observing (belongs here to collecting data) offers an easy entry into UR, as does computer simulation.
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-03-23

The week before last, I took part in an interesting webinar on UR Assessment with the COEUR 2.0 toolkit. More in the picture description.

All the best

Harald


COEUR 2.0. The week before last, I took part in a webinar on “Enhancing Undergraduate Research Success with the COEUR 2.0 Assessment Toolkit”. Coeur 2.0 stands for “Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research.” It covered everything from evaluating campus mission and culture and administrative support for Undergraduate Research (UR) to tasks such as summer research programs and assessment activities. It was very interesting for everyone involved in UR, from mentors to administrators. Link of the picture: https://www.cur.org/resources-publications/coeur-2-0/implementing-coeur-2-0/ The Cambridge Handbook on Undergraduate Research (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Not only do we have a whole chapter on assessment (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.021), but also a role model: The US Model at IUPUI and its alignment with the key Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR) (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.018).
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-03-16

Today I would like to introduce the University of Warwick (with Caroline, Emma, Jane and the IATL). I believe it is a model for undergraduate research in Europe. More in the picture description.
Harald


Today I would like to briefly introduce the University of Warwick (www.warwick.ac.uk). I believe it is a model for undergraduate research in Europe. Supported by the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL), each year hundreds of undergraduates are funded to run independent research projects through the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (https://warwick.ac.uk/services/skills/urss/). Warwick leads the annual national Posters in Parliament event (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/research/present/pip/), the International Conference of Undergraduate Research (co-organised with students, https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/research/present/icur/) and Reinvention, the international, interdisciplinary student research journal https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/research/reinvention/), which has student editors and reviewers. The picture (selfie by Paul Taylor, BCUR) shows the wonderful Warwick team at this year's Posters in Parliament event in London, from left to right: Fiona Farnsworth, Caroline Gibson, Emma Barker, Fiona O'Brien, and Jane Bryan. Undergraduate Research Handbook (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Emma and Caroline contributed the Chapter on Dissemination in Undergraduate Research to our handbook (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.022). All the best Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-03-09

Last week we went to the fabulous POSTERS in PARLIAMENT event in London - more in the picture description.

Harald




Picture: Last week we visited the fabulous Posters in Parliament in London (5 March, Portcullis House, House of Commons). Eack UK university could select two posters of undergraduate research for this event. The photo (general view) shows the students presenting their posters. The event was organized by the University of Warwick (thanks to Jane, Caroline, and Emma!) and BCUR. The event was hosted by Sir Alec Shelbrooke. The picture (top right) shows our team of Posters in Brussels. Undergraduate Research Handbook (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): The picture (top left) shows Prof. Maria T. Iacullo-Bird, President of the US Council of Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org), who also attended our project meeting. Iacullo-Bird contributed the chapter on Undergraduate Research in the USA (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.063) to our handbook. Next week I will introduce you to our wonderful associate partner, the University of Warwick, a truly European university in the UK. Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-03-02

UNITY of RESEARCH and TEACHING: the picture shows Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835), a Prussian educational reformer. He advocated the unity of research and teaching and is considered an important reference for undergraduate research today. He understood university education as a means of developing one's PERSONALITY. More in the picture description.

Harald



The UNITY of RESEARCH and TEACHING: The picture shows Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835), a Prussian scholar, high-ranking official, and educational reformer. His brother was the naturalist and geographer Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). Wilhelm von Humboldt is considered an important reference for undergraduate research today. He advocated the unity of research and teaching in universities. He saw university education primarily as a means of developing one's PERSONALITY. This could be achieved through the exchange of students with scholars and students with each other. To this end, universities need freedom and "helpful solitude" for study. Undergraduate Research Handbook (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): An award-winning program to promote research-based learning at the University of Hohenheim is called Humboldt Reloaded (Chapter 11, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508.016). Next week, the "Posters in Brussels" project will visit the "Posters in Parliament" event in London (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/research/present/pip/). We are all very excited. Picture: Lithograph by Friedrich Oldermann after a painting by Franz Krüger (http://www.sammlungen.hu-berlin.de/dokumente/6012/), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-02-23

I am posting a picture of John Dewey. He was an important American philosopher and educational reformer. He saw reflective thinking and learning through active inquiry as fundaments of democracy... More in the picture description.

Your input is very welcome.
Best, Harald


Today I am posting a picture of John Dewey. He was an important American philosopher and educational reformer. He saw reflective thinking and learning through active inquiry as fundaments of democracy. He was a pioneer of undergraduate research (UR) and CRITICAL THINKING. But we don't really know what effect this has on society. It is obvious that the effect is triggered by epistemological beliefs: i.e. those who do not believe in science (but only as a qualification for practicing a profession) will not necessarily make critical thinking and learning through active inquiry the basis of their political worldview. Undergraduate Research Handbook (https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108869508): Critical thinking is mentioned in more than one in three chapters, even in the chapter on UR in Russia. Chapter on Assessment of UR: According to EvaluateUR, critical thinking is assessed together with problem solving, namely via (i) Challenges established thinking when appropriate; (ii) Looks for the root causes of problems and develops or recognizes the most appropriate corrective actions; (iii) Recognizes flaws, assumptions and missing elements in arguments. Picture attribution: Underwood & Underwood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Your input is very welcome. Best, Harald
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-02-16

The biggest challenge for the "Posters in Brussels" application (www.postersinbrussels.eu) was to create a LOGICAL FRAMEWORK (see picture): What do we want to achieve (BA students present their research in the EU Parliament), what do we need to do to achieve it (national Posters in Parliament + a European one), and how we can measure it (indicators, UR assessment)?
All the best, Harald



Objectives: Posters in Brussels combines the goal of strengthening the European spirit with innovative pedagogy – undergraduate research (UR), i.e., students conduct their own research as early as the bachelor's program. UR supports rapid, deep learning. In this project, undergraduate students present their research at their national parliaments. As a highlight, students from all over Europe present at the European Parliament in Brussels. The project aims at science communication and civic engagement. Implementation and Activities: The project consists of five national Posters in Parliament events (PiP) and a European PiP in Brussels. It will include training for students, intensive work with the media, and the creation of an exchange platform for the European UR network. An accompanying study will evaluate the impact. Posters in Brussels fosters student participation and institutional change among the university partners. Posters in Brussels is inspired by Posters on the Hill (now STR program), held annually in Washington. Results: 1) There will be five prototypes of national as well as a European version of the "Poster in Parliament". 2) A European UR platform and a European UR network will be promoted. 3) The assessment project will lead to scientific publications.
UndergraduateResearchharaldmieg
2025-02-09

Towards an Undergraduate Research (UR) Network in Europe: With Posters in Brussels (www.postersinbrussels.eu) we want build a European UR network. Special measures: an UR online platform (ATU Galway, Ireland), a EU proto-association for UR (U Luxembourg).
UR Handbook (DOI: 10.1017/9781108869508): UR is represented in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, UK.
The Spanish-speaking academic world offers great UR potential (s. picture, CINDA).
Harald

UR networking perspectives. ACUR: Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research (www.acur.org.au). AG FL: Arbeitsgruppe „Forschendes Lernen“ in der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hochschuldidaktik / Standing Group "Research-Based Learning" in the German Association for Higher Education Didactics (https://www.dghd.de/community/arbeitsgruppen/ag-forschendes-lernen). AGUR: Alliance for Global Undergraduate Research (contact: susanne.haberstroh@uni-oldenburg.de). BCUR: The British Conference of Undergraduate Research (https://bcur.org.uk). CINDA: Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo (Interuniversity Development Center, https://cinda.cl). IAFOR The International Academic Forum (https://iafor.org). ICUR: The International Conference of Undergraduate Research (www.icurportal.com). WorldCUR: World Congress on Undergraduate Research. SURE (Science Undergraduate Research Experience, https://sure-network.ie). AGUR and ICUR operate globally. IAFOR and CINDA are not focused on UR. Source: Mieg / Odebiyi / Susanne Toward an undergraduate research network in Europe and beyond. DOI:10.18833/spur/7/3/2. About this team: https://digiur.eu/the-european-ur-network-project/

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