Teaching and Educational Methods
Mandatory Undergraduate Research: Unlocking the Potential of Students at a Latin American University
Luis A. Sandoval(a) and Sarahí D. Morales(a)
(a)Texas Tech University
JEL Codes: JEL Codes: A22, I23, A00
Keywords: Career readiness, higher education, Latin America, Zamorano
First Published Online: March 26, 2025
Abstract
Through undergraduate research experiences (UREs), students develop important knowledge and skills, such as reading and understanding scientific literature, working independently, and communication skills. The acquired knowledge and skills apply to their professional life, regardless of whether students pursue a career in science. Because students choose to participate in these experiences, the overall satisfaction and perceived benefits of the experiences tend to be positively evaluated. The URE is a graduation requirement at the Panamerican Agricultural School (Zamorano University). To the best of our knowledge, no literature explores student satisfaction and perceived benefits in the context of mandatory UREs. In this teaching method article, we present details on the URE at Zamorano University, including its modalities, procedure, and required human and capital resources, student satisfaction, and perceived benefits for the 2023 agribusiness cohort, and the overall impact to society. The results suggest most students were satisfied or very satisfied with the experience and perceived moderate to significant benefits. However, mean satisfaction and perceived benefits were lower than non-mandatory UREs at other institutions. Finally, we present evidence of the UREs’ contribution to faculty involved in advising and its benefits to society.
References
Auchincloss, L.C., S.L. Laursen, J.L. Branchaw, K. Eagan, M. Graham, D.I. Hanauer, G. Lawrie, C.M. McLinn, N. Pelaez, S. Rowland, M. Towns, N.M. Trautmann, P. Varma-Nelson, T. Weston, and E.L. Dolan. 2017. “Assessment of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences: A Meeting Report.” CBE-Life Sciences Education 13(1):29–40. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.14-01-0004
Council on Undergraduate Research. 2024. “What Is Undergraduate Research?” https://www.cur.org/about/what-is-undergraduate-research/
Linn, M.C., E. Palmer, A. Baranger, E. Gerard, and E. Stone. 2015. “Undergraduate Research Experiences: Impacts and Opportunities.” Science 347:1261757. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1261757
Lopatto, D. 2003. “The Essential Features of Undergraduate Research.” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=8b47f05fecb485b85b17d9c371607a3422a822d
Lopatto, D. 2004. “Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE): First Findings.” Cell Biology Education 3:270–277. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.04-07-0045
Lopatto, D. 2009. Science in Solution: The Impact of Undergraduate Research and Student Learning. Tucson AZ: Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
Morales, S., A. Maier, S. Argueta, and T. Müller. 2023. “Feeding the World: Competences Demanded by the Agrifood Systems of the Future.” Paper presented at Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Innovative Education, Monterrey, Mexico.
Morales, S., and D.T. Pérez. 2024. “Burnout Syndrome: Exploring Gender Dynamics in the Agricultural Industry of Latin America.” Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education, Orlando FL, April 23–27.
Morris, M., A.R. Sebastian, and V.M.E. Perego. 2020. Future Foodscapes: Re-imagining Agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/34812
Patt, S., J. Rendon, and S. Morales. 2024. “Case Study: Catracha Coffee, a Replicable Business Model?” Paper presented at Annual Conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education, Orlando FL, April 23–27.
Petrella, J.K., and A.P. Jung. 2008. “Undergraduate Research: Importance, Benefits, and Challenges.” International Journal of Exercise Science 1(3):91–95. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27182299
Rodriguez, L.R., and L.A. Sandoval. 2023. “Impacto económico de la investigación del frijol en la agricultura hondureña.” Ceiba 56(1):50–60. doi: 10.5377/ceiba.v56i1.16367
Sandoval, L.A., F. Menendez, J. Ajche, B. Mamani, and A. Hernández. 2023. “Comparison of Visual Attention and Purchase Intention of Traffic Light and Warning Disc Supplementary Nutritional Labels in the [Latin American University] University Student Population.” Paper presented at Inter-Conference Symposium of the International Association of Agricultural Economics, Montevideo, Uruguay, April 19–21.
Sandoval, L.A., S.D. Zapata, and J.G. Lemus. 2021. “Hedonic Price Analysis of High-Quality Coffee Auctions: El Salvador’s Cup of Excellence Case.” Poster presented at Annual Meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Austin TX. http://dx.doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.312660
Santillan, P.S., and L.A. Sandoval. 2021. “Impact of COVID-19 in Dairy Products Consumption in Ecuador.” Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Austin TX. http://dx.doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.312661
Seymour, E., B. Hunter, S.L. Laursen, and T. DeAntoni. 2004. “Establishing the Benefits of Research Experiences for Undergraduates in the Sciences: First Findings from a Three-Year Study.” Science Education 88(4):493–534. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.10131
Zacarias, M., S. Morales, L. Sandoval, and R. Soto. 2021. “More Than Less: Trends in Agricultural Sciences as a First-Choice Career in Honduras.” Paper presented at Proceedings of the 37th Annual Conference of the Association forInternational Agricultural and Extension Education, Virtual, April 12–15.
Articles in this issue
Textbook Review of: Equilibrium Displacement Models: Theory, Applications, and Policy Analysis. By Gary W. Brester, Joseph A. Atwood, and Michael A. Boland
George Davis, Andrew Keller, Henry Kinnucan, Mike McCullough, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson, et al.
Reflecting on Using Reflection Exercises to Improve Student Learning and Teaching Effectiveness
Jaclyn D. Kropp
Innovate to Lead: Curriculum Innovations to Meet Students’ Needs in Applied Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Programs
Rachna Tewari , Na Zuo, Maria Bampasidou, Anthony Delmond, Lijiao Hu, Tanner McCarty, et al.
Using NetLogo to Build an Agent-Based Model for Teaching Purposes at the Graduate Student Level
Bryan Collins and Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) Liang
An Ignatian Pedagogical Approach to Fostering Conversations on BIPOC Farmland Ownership Through Film Screenings
Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Trey Malone, Logan G. Moss, and Wendell Scales Jr.
Fostering Undergraduate Research with Rising Student Demand and Shrinking Faculty Resources: The Saturday Morning Breakfast Club
Katherine Lacy, Peter F. Orazem, T.J. Rakitan, and Levi Soborowicz
Mandatory Undergraduate Research: Unlocking the Potential of Students at a Latin American University
Luis A. Sandoval and Sarahí D. Morales
Service-Learning in Agricultural Economics: Harnessing Local Food to Introduce Students to Applied Research and Extension
Cristina Connolly
Expanding Undergraduate Research Experience: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons for the Future
April Athnos, Anna Josephson, Jeffrey D. Michler, and Lorin Rudin-Rush
Faculty Perspectives on Engaging Undergraduates in Agricultural and Applied Economics Research
John Lai, Jerrod Penn, and Misti Sharp
Integrating Agricultural Research into Undergraduate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Courses
Risti Permani, Md Khairul Hidayatullah Basir, Kodrad Winarno, Bisakha Dewan, et.al
From Zero to Thesis in Two Years: A Curriculum Plan for Engaging Undergraduates in Honors Research
Caleb Stair, Xumin Zhang and Misti Sharp
Undergraduate Research Opportunities in an Applied Economics Program: Expanding Pathways for Economics Majors (and Beyond) at Land-Grant HBCUs
Huan Li, Lyubov Kurkalova, Scott Simkins and Shona Morgan
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Aid Classroom Retention
J. Ross Pruitt, Anthony R. Delmond, Sandy Mehlhorn, and Diana L. Watson
Engaging Students in Open Dialogue about Use of AI Tools in Economics Courses
Zoë Plakias
Farmland Price-Rent Surveys: Opportunities for Outreach and Teaching
B. James Deaton, Nicholas Bannon, Alexander Scholz, and Jamie Naylor