The Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus (URECA) programme is now in its sixth year. URECA is an elite undergraduate research programme for students who are of excellent academic standing. The programme enables these students to immerse themselves in research in their second and third years while earning benefits such as a stipend or academic credits.The coveted title “NTU President Research Scholar” (PRS) will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the programme.
URECA develops the imagination of aspiring researchers by guiding them through a chosen research project over a period of ten months (September to June) under the guidance of professors.
URECA students enjoy the flexibility of working on any research project in any discipline at NTU laboratories, external research institutes or national laboratories. In the last academic year, some 300 URECA students had a choice of over 1000 research projects in the areas of engineering, chemical, biological and mathematical sciences, business management and accountancy, communication studies, humanities and the arts to choose from.
By undertaking these research projects, the students will:
- gain a good appreciation of research, including the need for rigour and independence;
- experience the open-endedness of research, as well as the formulation and approach to research problems;
- appreciate the work of researchers as they collaborate closely with their professors.
URECA students spend about 10 hours a week for 10 months on their research though some have opted to immerse themselves full-time during breaks and vacations. This substantial research immersion gives them a deeper understanding of their research problem and facilitates more significant research findings.
As a testimony to its effectiveness, URECA has since evolved to encompass collaboration with external research agencies; DSO-URECA was launched in collaboration with the DSO National Laboratories and SIMTech-URECA was launched in collaboration with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech-A*STAR). Professors and senior research staff at these organisations provide ideas and supervision for the research projects.
URECA students may also pursue research-based final year projects under the FYP-URECA scheme.
A growing number of URECA students have published research papers in archived journals and international conferences. Some of the research activities undertaken were so outstanding; they clinched prizes when presented at premier international conferences. The students’ participation in these conferences was sponsored by URECA. Several outstanding research activities were also featured in the local media and international journals.
NTU hopes that, through such exposure to research, URECA students will consider pursuing a higher degree by research and embark on a career in research.
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