Value of Undergraduate Research at Bentley University
Undergraduate research serves as an outlet for students to express their creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, planning, and analytical skills. It is an active learning environment for students to challenge themselves in ways that are not possible in the traditional classroom. In many ways, it personifies and is an expression of what colleges and universities prepare their students to do after their four years of higher education.The education offered by Bentley uniquely prepares students for this type of undergraduate research. For example, extensive teamwork in the classroom allows students to thrive in the smaller and more intimate research groups that formulate and craft the next series of experiments. Similarly, the problem-solving skills developed through the analysis of case studies prepare students to tackle the complex system of variables often intertwined in a research project.
Finally, the close working relationships between faculty and students in our classrooms allow students to seamlessly and comfortably transition into the advisor and mentee roles present in undergraduate research. The collection of research presented at the Undergraduate Research Day demonstrates the breadth of research conduct at Bentley University that includes novel scientific discoveries, economic analysis of pressing business and societal issues, and mechanisms for harnessing business not only for profit, but also for the benefit of people and the planet.
