Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research: A Policy Roadmap for Turkish Research Universities

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Garip G., Koç G.

Üniversite Araştırmaları Dergisi (Online), cilt.9, sa.3, ss.465-491, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

This study provides a strategic roadmap for the systematic institutionalization of undergraduate research experiences (URE) in Türkiye’s research universities. Aiming to bridge the gap between national policy goals and fragmented practices, the research seeks to transform the current structure into a coherent, policy-accountable research ecosystem. The study employs a scoping review of 76 national publications spanning 1994–2025 and a descriptive content analysis of seven key higher education policy documents. Findings reveal that the current literature is heavily concentrated in Educational Sciences (50 of the 76 studies), while STEM fields are significantly underrepresented; furthermore, only eight of the 76 studies meet the international definition of authentic undergraduate research participation, indicating a critical conceptual and structural gap. Analysis of seven key policy documents reveals that while national frameworks increasingly reference undergraduate research in aspirational terms, none includes operationalizable performance indicators for URE participation – reflecting the empirical gap identified in the literature. Existing practices remain largely extracurricular and grant dependent. To overcome these structural barriers, a three-tiered “IUR-Türkiye” implementation model encompassing policy, institutional, and curricular levels is proposed. The model recommends requiring measurable metrics at the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) level, establishing centralized Undergraduate Research Offices, and embedding Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) into the curriculum. Furthermore, the formal recognition of faculty mentorship within academic promotion processes is emphasized as a strategic requirement for a sustainable research culture.