Early Undergraduate Research in an International Setting: A Pilot Study

Drexel University piloted the Students Tackling Advanced Research Internationally (iSTAR) Scholars Program, which provides undergraduates with an opportunity to engage in an international experience at a collaborating institution during the summer between their first and second years. Based on outcomes from a modified version of the Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA) tool, the authors found that undergraduates engaged in international research experiences self-report making at least equivalent gains to students engaged in domestic research experiences and significantly higher gains in several areas such as developing patience with research, writing reports, conducting observations, and calibrating instruments. Students engaged in international experiences also self-report more comfort in working with diverse populations.