Challenges and impacts of undergraduate research: perspectives of faculty and students in a university center
TL;DR
UR is widely valued by students and teachers, but challenges such as academic overload, lack of institutional support and low publication rate must be faced to optimize its impacts on professional training.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Undergraduate research (UR) is an essential tool in university education that promotes students’ academic and professional development. However, the motivation for adhering to UR, the challenges faced and the impacts on medical training are still little explored in the literature. Objective: to analyze the perception of students and teachers about undergraduate research, evaluating their motivations, challenges and academic and professional repercussions. Methods: observational and cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, whose data collection was carried out using an electronic questionnaire, sent to students and teachers at a Brazilian University Center. Results: among students, curricular enrichment was the main motivation for joining UR (around 90%), with more than half of students considering it essential or very important for medical graduation. However, the publication rate was only 12.73%, demonstrating a gap between participation in UR and effective peer-validated scientific production. Among the institutional difficulties, the lack of time (41.7%) and the lack of advisory were mentioned, justified, from the teaching perspective, also by the lack of time (41.67%) and opportunity (58.33%). Conclusion: UR is widely valued by students and teachers, but challenges such as academic overload, lack of institutional support and low publication rate must be faced to optimize its impacts on professional training.