UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 1 Dr Hugh Shercliff Director of Undergraduate Education CU Department of Engineering Trumpington St, Cambridge Higher Education Academy: Bringing Research and Teaching Together Friday 24 November 2006 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme)

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 2 UROP in Cambridge Pilot project for four years, supported by Cambridge-MIT Institute: participating Departments: Engineering, Plant Science, Genetics, Computer Science currently limited to internal students over 50 students in summer 2006 target of 100+ students next year, including Physics (with continuing support of the Isaac Newton Trust) What is UROP? undergraduate summer placement in research group (usually 10 weeks) students can work in their own or a different discipline

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 3 UROP: some key benefits For the undergraduates: exposure to high-quality research – enter the “slipstream” of internationally-recognised academics set studies in stimulating, exciting context – innovation, entrepreneurship become full participants in, and contributors to, the University – reduce demarcations between staff, RAs, students, technical staff paid work relevant to studies (instead of low casual work)

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 4 UROP: some key benefits For the academic, the wider research community, and industry: improved supply to post-graduate research degrees and careers direct contribution to research output – proof-of-concept, publications, input to funding bids, boost to post-graduate student/RA productivity excellent value for money (£2k + consumables for 10 weeks) low administrative overhead, and flexibility to combine funds from multiple sources

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 5 A personal case history Research in Friction Stir Welding Key data for new alloy + conference papers CASE PhD Industry-funded MSc EU FW5 project UROP Post-doc RA (industry-funded) Collaboration with Manchester University DTI + industrial funding The UROP student’s history: First Class Bachelors degree hadn’t considered research 10 week UROP, followed by MEng PhD in same group Possible academic career ?

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 6 UROP: the way forward Scale-up, and long-term sustainability: Local challenges: - greater number of participating staff (no shortage of student demand) - increased industrial support - widen to new subjects, including Humanities National challenges: - significant funding from Research Councils and other agencies - streamlined, flexible operation (EPSRC - DTA route not ideal?) - long-term commitment to support UROP Alternative models: - e.g. Science Foundation Ireland: significantly greater funding individual projects and “summer school” activities