About the Centre

CETL-AURS  was awarded to the University of Reading in recognition of existing excellence in disciplines with an active research record.  We have been awarded £2.7million over five  years to develop research skills amongst our undergraduates, through their active engagement with primary research resources.

Our CETL is funding a variety of projects over the five years, working in both specific subject areas and on university-wide developments.  Many of our projects involve students engaging with the research potential of the University's Museums and Collections and in promoting independent research. 

We have a core team managing a number of inter-disciplinary initiatives, such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP), the Reading Student Survey and the creation of tools to map where research skills are taught and assessed in the curriculum.

In addition we are funding initiatives that are developed by teams based in the subject areas, including Agriculture, Archaeology, Chemistry, Geography, Geosciences, Plant Sciences, Typography and Zoology.  Further projects in new subject areas are in development. 

Our CETL was allocated a capital spend of £940,000 which we used to refurbish and create dedicated undergraduate research spaces across the University, to purchase up-to-date equipment for use in teaching, and to improve access to our Collections and Museums for both students and staff.

In summer 2007 CETL-AURS produced an interim evaluation report for HEFCE on the activities that have taken place so far, and our plans for the remainder of the CETL lifespan.  To download the report in full please use the link CETL-AURS Interim Evaluation Report July 2007.  To read the report for each individual project please see the CETL-AURS Project pages.