Are We Really Preparing Students to Be Career Ready? A Conversation on the Current State of the Literature on Undergraduate Research and Career Readiness

Abstract

A substantial body of evidence demonstrates the value of undergraduate research experiences (UREs). Indeed, the skills, knowledge and dispositions gained often appear as employer priorities in hiring decisions. We see this demonstrated in AAC&U's 2021 Hart employer study; employers are 85% more likely or somewhat more likely to hire a student who had a mentored research experience. However, little is known about the activities institutions of higher education are offering to help students translate their UREs in ways that talent recruiters will understand and value. We offer results from a scoping review of available literature on UREs as a tool in preparing students to be career ready in the United States. We offer preliminary findings from a literature review on how institutions prepare UR students for their next steps, focusing also on gaps, and opportunities to better help our students articulate the value of UREs as career readiness competencies.