3.7 It's a WRAP: engaging undergraduate students in research through the Winchester Research Apprenticeship Programme

Engaging undergraduate students in research through the Winchester Research Apprenticeship Programme

 Dr Sabine Bohnacker-BruceLearning & Teaching FellowFaculty of Business, Law and SportUniversity of Winchester

It’s a WRAP

What is WRAP? 200+ research projects with 220+ staff members and 300+ UG students

Sample project 1EVENT MANAGEMENTResearching event venues for an undergraduate text book

Sample project 2LAWIntelligence-led policing in the age of Big Data: a practical perspectiveA project to analyse responses to Freedom of Information requests received from police forces within the UK to determine if inconsistencies exist in the treatment of ‘intelligence’ and to investigate the use of algorithmic policing methods.

Sample project 3SPORTDoes the Eksoskeleton (bionic suit) elicit physiological and perceptual benefits for patients with spinal cord injury?

…and many other projects:Communicating in a Crisis: BP

and Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

An Analysis of First Degree

Awards amongst the 2010 House of

Commons Composition

The use of Heavy-Load

Squats as a Warm-Up for 100m

Sprinting Review of funding

requirements under the EU Northern

Periphery Programme

Visual case material for Global Fashion Marketing textbook

Harassment law – a visual

representation of the law

Identification of key features of Advergames in

the UK

Funding

Why WRAP?

Students “need to be fully inducted into the culture and community of researchers” in order to develop essential skills of critical inquiry (Brew, 2006, p.13).

Students

Academics

University

Step 1: Project proposalsMain Criteria effective learning opportunity for

students genuine contribution to the research of

the staff member

Step 2: Recruit apprentices

Step 3: Projects

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Step 4: Project evaluation

Step 5: WRAP presentation lunch

Positive outcomesI have gained a variety of skills. They are communication skills, collecting information and collating it, organising, time management.

The experience was relevant for my FYP for the final year. Moreover, I have gained a clearer perspective about the MBA programme, which I might pursue in the future.

I learnt more about ethics in conducting research, collecting primary data though interviews, how to arrange all the research data in an orderly manner, how to arrange my schedule for different tasks.

Obstacles

And finally… “I would recommend to everyone in the future to

apply for this project because it is such a great experience, the work is manageable! …And it is really fun!!!”

“No suggestions, just keep doing what you're doing because the project was a great experience.”

“More please, this is a fantastic opportunity for both students and staff.”

For further information contact: [email protected]