Cathy Xia

 2023

 Economics

  Youth Employment in Ghana

"My research adventure in Ghana with the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) was a journey of self-discovery and intellectual exploration. The program provided a perfect balance between independence and unwavering support. My supervisor served as a guiding light, the URSS student network and public engagement team provided the safety net.

During my intense two-week stay in Ghana, I interacted with a diverse range of individuals and experts, including government agents, local high schools, e-commerce businesses, and charitable organizations.This hands-on immersion in local life and deep connection with professionals from ISSER, along with the access to exclusive academic resources, were the highlights of my journey, and I couldn't have done it without the network and support provided by URSS and my supervisor.

What I'd like to share with fellow students is this: don't be afraid to embark on academic research. My journey to Ghana may have started with bare feet, but I returned with a mind enriched with knowledge and a heart full of stories. It's an adventure I'll treasure forever. "

Fangyang Xie

 2023

 Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

  A Dialectic of Heaven and Man: A Conversation between Yijing and Hegel

"The URSS was an enriching experience in terms of both academic interest and of practical skills for any undergraduate who wants to get a grasp of being a researcher or just to extend their interests outside modules.

The URSS experience has brought me so many challenges in initiating a project and managing it in 10 weeks, as well as a strong sense of accomplishment when sharing my research outcomes with fellow undergraduate researchers and a wider academic community.

I was funded by the URSS to present my paper at the International Society of East Asian Philosophy 2023 Conference, among 70 other doctoral students and academics.

My paper searches for possible connections between the Yijing and Hegelian logic beyond Hegel’s biased comment on the philosophical value of the Yijing.

Beyond the skills and knowledge gained from conducting this independent research, my research ethics and orientation were largely inspired by my URSS supervisor. As a future researcher in philosophy, I acknowledge that my Chinese heritage grants me both the power and responsibility of speaking for the underrepresented people and conveying their philosophies against Eurocentrism."

Simrat Kaur Sandhu

 2023

 Psychology

  Effects of Birth Order and Multilingualism on Word Classification

"My remote research project focused on language within psychology, with the aim to learn more about how siblings and birth order, as well as the ability to speak multiple languages, would impact people’s persistence in a language task. The URSS program gave me the resources and confidence to pursue an independent project, which not only encouraged me to develop my leadership skills, but also allowed me to venture into this dynamic and interesting field of Psychology!

Throughout the project, I was faced with technical, mathematical, and logistical challenges – none of which were something I expected to face within my Psychology career path – but, alas, I have come out of the project with a newfound drive to try new areas, even if they are outside of my comfort zone, and I also got to embrace the familiar aspects of my subject, which only grew the passion and fascination that drew me toward my field in the first place.

As a message for students considering research – or in any other pathway: expect the unexpected, prepare the best you can, and be resilient! You can achieve great things with some drive, conscientiousness, and of course some support (which I have no doubt you will find within the URSS)."

Jorja Oladiran

 2022

 Liberal Arts

The Historical and Political Insurgence of Barbados Republicanism

"URSS was such a valuable and enriching experience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to research something that they are very interested in but typically wouldn't get the opportunity within their normal degree.

The project really encouraged a sense of agency and confidence that I didn't know I had because of its inherently independent nature of research discovery, I was forced to challenge myself on what I was researching and how I wanted to add to the academic literature. It gave me freedom to explore any project that I wanted to and all terrains of that project that interested me.

I got the amazing opportunity to go to Barbados, and research on something that is very new. It felt so good that I was able to add to this academic debate, especially as it is still in its inception era."