Students’ Participation in Research Projects – Does it Affect Their Further Formation and The Quality of Education?

Students’ participation in research projects contributes significantly to the quality of education at universities by increasing students’ soft and hard skills and hence – their attractiveness on the labour market, ameliorating final theses, and allows to select the most talented students who should be encouraged to continue education at doctoral studies. The aim of the present study was to assess students’ participation (undergraduates, master, PhD) in research projects as a path influencing further formation and improving education quality. The study was approached by students, graduates and academic teachers from two faculties of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. The obtained results indicate a low participation of students in research projects. Whereas, high number of those students who took part in such projects significantly perfected many soft and hard skills, participated in scientific conferences, were author/co-author of publications, established contacts with industry, as well as with academic teachers and gained professional experience. Moreover, participation in research projects had an impact on final theses achievement and on decisions making by students concerning their further education path. However, it does not influence student mobility and participation in scientific internships. In the light of the obtained results it is suggested that more effective information campaigns should be conducted among students and new policies and standards of research-based teaching (i.e. Good Practice of Students Scientific Path and Good Practice of the Research Team) should be implemented to improve the quality of education and increase the competitiveness of the University among other science universities.