Evaluating the outcomes of a scientific seedbed program for enhancing research capacities in young students

Abstract

In the current educational landscape, there is a growing emphasis on providing students with a comprehensive education that includes the development of research skills. However, experts argue that it is crucial to cultivate these skills at an early stage, even during primary and secondary education, to enable students to strengthen their research abilities in university. This research project aimed to establish a scientific platform to foster research capacities among young students. The scientific platform comprised three interdisciplinary working groups, consisting of 14 undergraduate students from various Latin American countries pursuing different academic disciplines. The program was overseen by three instructors. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology was employed in the scientific platform program, wherein each group was assigned three challenging cases. As a result, at the conclusion of the program, the students presented their research findings and proposed solutions for the assigned cases. In comparison to previous experiences conducted in specific universities, this platform successfully integrated students from different Latin American countries and diverse professional fields.