The Horizons Model: A Pilot Study of Competition, Collaboration, and Wicked Problems as Catalysts for Undergraduate Research Engagement

Abstract

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) are recognized as high-impact educational practices, yet participation remains limited by systemic barriers that disproportionately affect research novices and underrepresented students. This pilot study introduces the Horizons model, an innovative approach that combines competition, collaboration, and wicked problems to broaden participation in undergraduate research. Unlike traditional UREs requiring full project execution, Horizons engages interdisciplinary teams in developing research proposals. This single-institution pilot analyzes data from surveys of students, judges, and faculty mentors. Results suggest the model’s potential effectiveness in engaging research novices: 57 percent of participants had no prior research experience, yet 92 percent reported that they would recommend the program and 75 percent expressed increased interest in pursuing research opportunities. The study provides a foundation for more rigorous future evaluation of the Horizons framework across multiple institutions.