Supporting hands-on research at the undergraduate level is crucial for the development of experience, skills, and creative thinking that students will need to be successful after graduation, writes University of Calgary President Elizabeth Cannon. Noting the emphasis employers now place on skills such as problem-solving, communication, and leadership, Cannon points to the benefits of teaching students research skills early. “We want students to go beyond being consumers of knowledge, and instead develop the skills that allow them to create new knowledge,” she writes. Programs like the federal Canada First Research Excellence Fund and uCalgary’s Program for Undergraduate Research Experience can help students gain valuable knowledge and research skills.
Universities Canada