Table 7:
Alumni questionnaire: a selection of typical answers on the open questions
| What were the most important learning gains of this course for you? |
| • The process of not merely coming up with a potential research topic, but to actually work out a plan to carry it out while having to take into consideration the interests of other groups as well as costs, feasibility, facilities/technical equipment. In other words, a valuable ‘rehearsal’ in light of a future research career. I found it very interesting to see how one continuously has to question oneself while working on and designing a research plan. Every decision one makes needs to be grounded. |
| • I believe what stuck with me most is that it isn't necessarily easy to find a “niche” in the field (something that I had never considered before the course and turned out to be useful during my master and now PhD … so it was extremely helpful to be “confronted/taught” with this in undergraduate so that I was prepared when the day came I had to do this in my master program!!!! |
| • Writing a research proposal forces you to see the whole picture within a scientific field, but also to focus on a specific research problem. It helps you to think critically but also creatively. |
| Did this course have additional value for your career thus far? Please elaborate. |
| • This course has definitely helped me in my career so far. Most PhD students at a recent retreat I participated in had not yet written a single research proposal, whereas I have written several and even received funding from a private foundation to cover some of my research costs. This would have been a lot more difficult without the experience I gained at the Advanced Cell Biology course. |
| • Yes, as part of the selection procedure for the University of Oxford, I gave a presentation on the research proposal that resulted from this course, which helped me secure a spot on the program (MSc in Neuroscience). Furthermore, I have been able to evaluate scientific articles much more critically, which was of help both in my course work and scientific projects. |
| • I think the discussions we had in class have been helpful, concretely during some of the interviews for PhD I had this month, because I had to think and argue on the spot, and with the experience from the course I felt more confident. |
| Did the course increase your interest to do research? |
| • Yes, it showed me how challenging and fun research could be. |
| • Yes, it showed that research can be both fundamental and interesting and that thinking about these problems is engaging. Actual cell biology research is unfortunately much more labor-intensive and offers much less possibility for reasoning, theorizing and thinking. |
| • No, although it did give me a good impression of what a career in research would be like. |
| What made this course different from a regular 300-level science course? |
| • The course pushed us to a higher level. Since the teachers made us clear that this course was “our” project, everybody felt a great responsibility to obtain a high-quality end-result. Not only did this course teach us many things on a personal level, it also trained us in regard to team work. |
| • …it really broadens your view, knowledge, idea of what research is all about!!! It's a tough course, but definitely the best one I’ve attended during my undergraduate at UCU!!! |
| • Mostly the fact that the course was completely run by students, and that we were the ones lecturing, deciding on a plan of action, etc. |
| Did this course in any way influence your selection for your graduate study? |
| • Yes. I used it as “proof” that I was well prepared to enter a master (research) study. |
| • No, but it made me doubt it. The Advanced Cell Biology course is an excellent way to get students excited about doing research and I must say it came a little too late for me. |
| • Yes, it was challenging and so much fun that I decided to continue in cell biology and research. |
| • This course confirmed my wish to go into scientific research, which I did after finishing my medical degree. |
| • Yes, I started a research master's program after UCU and will start a PhD in order to continue with research. |
| • Yes, this course increased my interest in research. I had not intended on going into research while attending UCU so this course offered me a glimpse of what it might be like. |
| • I have always doubted between medicine and scientific research and the joy of this course drove me to my research master at Oxford. |