The SURE project has created extra-curricular opportunities for undergraduates across BU to disseminate their research and gain valuable transferable skills relevant to their academic and personal development. The two SURE conferences have involved staff and students from all faculties and received support from RK&O and BU Events. Not only the two conferences were a result of co-production and co-creation, many of the works presented by students reflected co-creation with other undergraduates, postgraduates, BU academics and external collaborators.
There was a slight increase in the number of abstracts submitted to the SURE 2016 (54), comparing with SURE 2015 (49). There was also an increase in the number of abstracts resulting from co-creation (identified as the ones with co-authors), a total of 21 (43%) in 2015 and 29 (54%) in 2016. Co-productions were between UG students with other UG, PGRs, academics from BU and external collaborators.
In 2015, 23 oral presentations and 23 posters were presented. In 2016, 23 oral presentations, 20 posters and 1 art installation were presented. Three awards were given in each conference:
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| Research Excellence (MSc or MRes fee waiver) | Jozef Kulik, Psychology | Rosie Lumley, Nutrition |
| Best oral presentation (funds to present at an external conference) | Ben Hayes, Physiotherapy | Charlotte Fodor, English |
| Best poster (iPad) | Emma Packer, Biological Sciences | Christopher Dwen, Forensic Science |
The following are some photo highlights of the 2016 SURE event:
Most importantly, feedback from students and staff taking part in SURE events and other associated activities provide evidence of the value and benefit. The majority of students responding to the feedback survey indicated that they took part in the conferences because they were encouraged by their supervisors (59%), wanted to gain relevant skills and experience (56%) and wanted to learn how conferences work (52%). In open comments, students also indicated that it was a valuable opportunity to obtain feedback to improve their dissertation; a unique opportunity to learn about other research going on across BU and to gain experience and confidence about presenting/discussing their work.
SURE is an unique opportunity offered to our students that not many other universities provide. There is one important thing that academic staff and students can do to help future events – please do encourage your students to submit their work to the conference and to attend the conference sessions. Students presenting value the support from their peers and academic staff.
SURE also has stimulated BU participation at BCUR conferences due to encouragement to students that have submitted an abstract to SURE. 18 BU students (6 from each of the following faculties Management, SciTech and HSS) had abstracts accepted by BCUR and are expected to present their work at BCUR 2016 hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University (22-23 March 2016). Funds to support students participation were secured from their respective faculties.
BU will host BCUR 2017 (25-26 Apr 2017)!
Dr Luciana S. Esteves
