Developing Undergraduate Business Researchers

After receiving a UAEU-NRT Grant, Dr. Osiris Jorge Parcero, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the United Arab Emirates University, began his quest to train undergraduate business students as researchers.  Three male students, Abdul Aziz Abahindy, Abdul Rashid Faizi & Ahmad Kamalzada, were selected to work with him.

Dr. Osiris’ provided direct supervision by mentoring and coaching the students during the project.  He focused on sharing his skills, knowledge, and ability when it comes to planning for and guiding a research project to completion.  This involved training the student research assistants in critical thinking, the handling of complex databases, what software and programs (like Excel and Stata) to use, and writing a paper with an academic focus.  One major product of the faculty-student research collaboration was a co-authored paper published in a peer-reviewed journal.

This research relationship also resulted in several other positive experiences for the students.  Several other faculty members invited the students to work with them on their own research projects.  Ultimately, the student researchers were awarded a UAEU Summer Undergraduate Research Grant in June 2014.

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