1. Aims and Structure
EUREKA offers extended learning opportunities for undergraduate students to undertake inquiry-based research projects during the early years of their normative study period.
Spanning across ONE academic year, the programme consists of an introductory research methods course and an undergraduate research course. Students are required to complete the introductory research methods course or provide proof of equivalent training and match with a mentor by the end of First Semester and undertake the undergraduate research course to conduct their research projects in the Second Semester.
The undergraduate research course is NOT a substitute of the capstone experience students normally undertake during their final year of study.
2. Implementation for 2022-23
The programme will be centrally coordinated by the EUREKA team under Teaching and Learning. Faculties will be invited to participate in EUREKA through teacher nominations and set-up of satellite Undergraduate Research Courses.
As an experimental programme, the pilot launch in 2022-23 seeks to recruit a small batch of enthusiastic teachers and students. The lessons learned from the launch will be audited in Summer 2023 before further expanding in 2023-24.
3. Background of EUREKA students
Individual students not in their final year of studies are eligible to enroll in EUREKA having completed at least two semesters at HKU and attained a cumulative GPA of 2.70 and above. Mentors, whose decision is final, may exercise discretion to accept students not meeting the above baseline requirements.
4. Eligibility for EUREKA mentors
Academic staff intended to be EUREKA mentors should have a solid research track record and an active and ongoing research agenda. For Research Assistant Professors or Post-doctoral Fellows intended to be EUREKA mentors, co-mentoring with a senior staff is mandatory to ensure quality and continuity.
Schedule
| First Semester | |
| Period | Events |
| Within the First Semester | Prospective EUREKA students to enroll and complete the online introductory research methods course or provide proof of equivalent training on a designated online platform* (This requirement is waived for students joining in 2022-23). |
| September to mid-October | Faculty to nominate interested teachers to be mentors. Prospective EUREKA mentors’ department to nominate a course coordinator and submit a request to offer satellite Undergraduate Research Course of their discipline to their Faculty Board. Mentors to receive an invite from EUREKA team to submit a research project brief on the online platform. Mentors to apply for ethical and other necessary clearances for their research projects, if required. |
| Mid-October to December | Mentors and students to attend separate induction talks organised by EUREKA team to understand the programme. Faculty to organize follow-up matchmaking sessions after the induction talks. Students to register interested project(s) on the online platform, explore opportunities and meet up with their potential mentors to discuss research projects. EUREKA team will contact mentors and students to confirm the match by the end of December. |
| Second Semester | |
| Period | Events |
| Mid to Late January (Add-Drop Period) | Students who have successfully matched with a mentor and intended to proceed to enroll in the corresponding satellite Undergraduate Research Course on the Student Information System (SIS). |
| January to April | Students to work on their projects with mentors. |
| Late April to Early May | Students to submit their one-page research poster and reflective research essay to their mentors for review. |
| May | Course coordinator to consolidate mentor’s grading and feedback for grade submission to the Faculty. Mentors to schedule review sessions with students, and nominate students with exceptional performance to participate in the HKU Teaching and Learning Festival in the coming academic year. |
Introductory Research Methods Course
*At 2022-23 launch, students will not be required to complete the course or provide proof of equivalent training. The course, set to launch in September 2023, will be developed with iterative feedback from participating teachers, students and Faculties during the pilot year.
Before enrolling in the undergraduate research course, EUREKA students will be required to complete a self-paced, massive open online course (MOOCs) on Introductory Research Methods, preferably during the summer. The course will cover both quantitative and qualitative research skills, as well as topics concerning logical and critical thinking. The course will enhance students’ understanding of research methods and equip them with the necessary skills and toolkits to succeed in their undergraduate research course and other research opportunities.
Exemption will be granted for students who demonstrate proof of equivalent training.
Undergraduate Research Course
As mentors, you are invited to:
- Set-up the satellite course, attend the induction talk, submit research brief and meet with students
From September to mid-October, Faculties will be invited to recruit interested teachers for EUREKA. Upon Faculty approval, you and other teachers (if applicable) in the same department are invited to advise your department to set up the satellite Undergraduate Research Course of your discipline. Your head of department is advised to nominate a course coordinator and make request to offer the satellite Undergraduate Research Course of your discipline to the Faculty Board. Your potential student(s) will register this satellite course in the Second Semester to receive academic credits and the course will be an official record on student transcripts.
EUREKA team will also invite you to submit your research project brief for posting on the Online Platform.
From mid-October to December, a EUREKA Induction Talk will be held to introduce the basics of EUREKA. By attending the talk, you will gain an overview of the programme, tips on developing research activities, social and academic protocols with your potential EUREKA students. Faculties will also organize follow-up matchmaking sessions after the induction talk.
Between mid-October to December, you may set up office hours or be approached by students for meetings. You may meet up with selected students to determine whether they fit your research project. You may recruit students from different backgrounds depending on your project requirements.
EUREKA team will check with you on which student(s) you have accepted. The team will confirm both you and your student(s) regarding the match. After that, you may start working with your student(s) in the Second Semester.
2. Mode of collaboration
The course operates on a one-on-one basis i.e., one student is matched with one mentor. Each student will only be allowed to match with ONE mentor. While each mentor can accept normally no more than FIVE students, OR no more than TEN students with Faculty endorsement every academic year.
Research activities, such as monthly progress meetings, fieldtrips, working at mentor’s laboratory etc., as well as the mode of interaction i.e. face-to-face, remote or hybrid, will be carried out under mutual agreement between mentors and students.
Students are expected to allocate no less than 120 hours and no more than 180 hours of learning hours for this course. You are advised to remind your students to work out specific arrangements with you at the beginning of the undergraduate research course.
3. Course Learning Outcomes
On completing this course, students will be able to:
- Identify, describe and explain an important academic question based on experience, expertise, and literature
- Develop competence in and make good use of critical undergraduate research skills
- Collaborate, communicate, and present their notions effectively with other researchers, as well as a variety of audiences they may encounter
- Attain the relevant field’s standards for conducting responsible research
- Nurture an inquiry-based mindset to tackle ill-defined problems for lifelong learning and produce scholarly work for the benefit of the wider community
4. Roles and Responsibilities of Mentors
Mentors are expected to:
- Support students in their creative and academic endeavours
- Clearly identify the parts of project undergraduate students can be engaged
- Clearly specify expectations and deadlines with your students
- Conduct regular meetings with students to discuss progress
- Ensure students have had appropriate training in research compliance, including but not limited to laboratory safety, ethical procedures
- Demonstrate leadership to inspire students to develop their academic and professional pursuits
Mentors must arrange a minimum of 8-12 contact hours per month with each student.
If mentors have recruited more than one student to their EUREKA project, team meetings may be arranged to track students’ progress and provide guidance.
5. Understand the assessment criteria
Your student(s) will develop their research projects under your coaching in the Second Semester.
Between late April to early May, your student(s) are required to submit a one-page research poster and a reflective essay to you.
In May, course coordinator of the satellite Undergraduate Research Course offered by your department will consolidate your grading and written feedback for grade submission to the Faculty. You will provide feedback, schedule review sessions, and nominate students with exceptional performance for the HKU Teaching and Learning Festival poster exhibition and awards presentation ceremony in the coming academic year.
Course assessment is 100% coursework consisting of course participation (30%), a one-page research poster (50%) and a research reflective essay (20%). Course participation will be based on students’ learning attitude towards their research projects, the quality of their preparation work for consultation, and the observance of the social and academic protocols required as researchers. Assessment of the written work is based on the breadth and depth of their research topic, analysis, and discussion.
Your student(s) will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Upon satisfactory completion, the course will be recorded as a 6-credit elective course on their transcripts.
Why should I become a EUREKA mentor?
Supportive infrastructure for Undergraduate Research
Students joining EUREKA will have completed research methods training. They will also be supported by a network of peer tutors and be oriented to other relevant resources should they need further assistance. Likewise, Faculties will be advised to develop relevant infrastructure and host events such as follow-up matchmaking sessions to support participating teachers.
Diverse funding sources
According to the University Grants Committee (UGC), there is provision in the General Research Fund (GRF) budget for a monthly allowance to undergraduate students to support their participation in GRF projects, up to HKD 2,500 to an undergraduate helper for 10 months for each GRF application . Teachers may also be eligible to apply for various funding sources to scale up their projects by recruiting undergraduate researchers.
Improving one’s existing research work
Overseas cases have shown that the involvement of undergraduate researchers has positively improved the breadth and depth of the existing research projects. Teachers will be able to gain new perspectives through mentoring undergraduate students, as well as having extra support to accelerate the research process.
Undergraduate Research Mentorship Awards
As part of the annual Teaching and Learning Festival, mentorship awards will be set up to recognize the efforts teachers paid in realizing excellent undergraduate research projects.
Further Queries
Queries should be directed to eureka@hku.hk.
August 2022