Abstract
Given legislation that calls for close links between research and teaching in New Zealand universities, as well as a Ministry of Education that promoted research and inquiry for undergraduate students, research should be a dominant feature of the undergraduate curriculum. However, aside from students pursuing a four-year Honours degree, or for those fortunate to secure a summer studentship, opportunities to engage in undergraduate research are somewhat patchy. Certainly undergraduate research and inquiry activities are available at all eight New Zealand universities, but it is estimated that only a fraction of mainstream undergraduate curricula purposefully scaffold the development of research and inquiry skills through to a capstone project where students can undertake research. Undergraduate research is not explicitly supported at any university, and neither are there any national events. Consequently, although undergraduate research is quite pervasive throughout New Zealand universities, it is not well promoted, and even less well supported.