Mentored undergraduate research contributes to student success and increased learning in higher education. Through their mentoring relationships with educators, students develop and hone essential skills related to critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and integrative global learning. Mentored undergraduate research also contributes to a culture of innovation where research methodology is embraced and utilized in real-world situations.
To help institutions develop and sustain high-quality research experiences, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) launched the Mentored Undergraduate Research in Global Contexts (MUR-GC) think tank. The program and its working groups aim to curate best practices and generate new knowledge with a particular focus on broadening participation among underrepresented students and staff, addressing gaps between mentoring theory and practices, and sharing tools that support intercultural mentoring skills.
It was CILMAR's great pleasure to be part of the AAC&U think tank, which also included our colleagues from Elon University, the Forum on Education Abroad, and Grinnell University.