Today is Day 3 of #Eduinnovate campaign and the theme is poor research funding. We will concentrate on undergraduate research because, at the majority of universities, these studies typically wind up on the bookshelves.
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH LIKE THIS?
Undergraduate research is the exploration of a specific research topic by an undergraduate student who seeks to make an original contribution to a particular discipline. A lecturer who specialises in the same field assigned to supervise and provide advice to an undergraduate student in this instance so that the research can be nurtured to completion.
Concerned students may also pursue enrollment in a research institute, study independently, or interact with faculty members.
Undergraduate research is mostly treated as a requirement for acceptance into professional and graduate schools. It is not considered a means of advancing national development.
…however, undergraduate research carries a lot more weight:
- makes the students take initiative to solve problems on their own rather than relying on experts for the answers.
- it is an effective way to showcase effective learning and teaching.
- it gives room for real world applications and
- provide research and professional experience
CAUSES OF POOR RESEARCH FUNDING
A lack of funding is the primary reason for a slump in research activities in various universities.
One of the reason is a lack of interest from policy-makers, in lieu to this, researchers use their salaries/allowances to conduct research, and even attend conferences.
Consequently, they lack motivation and training to do research and this could hinder the country’s achievement of sustainable development goals, according to the study published by Frontiers in October 2021.
#Eduinnovate
SOLUTIONS TO POOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FUNDING.
By making these recommendations, we are essentially telling you to take control of your own life. Don’t wait around for the federal government to accept your proposals.
Cast a wide net!
Exploring a full range of grant oppurtunities in your field could be a means of tackling poor research funding. There are foundations that maintain databases of hundreds of grants.
One can also check for grants directly from Federal Agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
Be more Practical than Abstract
Undergraduate research being practical could make the necessary quarters to sponsor such research. For example, having a research that deals with the results of a particular disease would require more funds to get vaccines, solutions and reagents compared to a research majoring on only the advantages and disadvantages of a particular drug in a restricted environment or quarters. Be able to explain how your research idea relates to and expands upon experiments and theories. Research questions/proposals that start from a newer theory or model or propose a significant twist to an older one can also give on an edge.
The Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND) should have a designated budget towards funding undergraduate research amongst various Universities. This Foundation is well known for the building and construction of facilities and infrastructures in most Nigerian Universities; however, this can also be directed towards the research sphere.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
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