Maximizing Your Overseas Experience with Princeton: A Guide
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In an interview published in "Research Abroad", Haider Abbas, a Princeton University graduate from 2017, shares his insights on making an impactful research project during an international academic travel program.
A seasoned traveler, Abbas has embarked on two Princeton trips, both offering a full day of independent exploration. During his recent class trip to Denmark as part of the course "Making the Viking Age", he found himself captivated by intricate architectural designs in Copenhagen.
When it comes to choosing a research area, Abbas advises students to let their assignments and peers inform them. He emphasises the importance of selecting a topic closely related to one's academic field or previous studies, as this helps ensure access to reliable sources, a suitable supervisor abroad, and sustained engagement with the project.
Conducting preliminary research is another crucial step, allowing students to understand what has already been done on their topic and identify gaps or new angles that their project can address. This ensures originality and impact.
Defining a clear research question and objectives is essential for providing clarity and direction. A focused research question and a well-defined topic facilitate monitoring progress and achieving outcomes within the travel timeframe.
Meaningful collaboration with a faculty research mentor is also key. A good mentor can provide guidance, resources, and help ensure that the research is feasible and impactful. This is often a deciding factor for scholarships and fellowships supporting independent projects abroad.
Effective project management is vital for keeping research on track, especially during short-term international travel. Utilising project management techniques, such as scheduling tasks and setting milestones, can help maximise productivity.
Legal and ethical considerations should not be overlooked. Protecting one's research and intellectual property by conducting due diligence on collaborators abroad, understanding legal frameworks, and managing security risks related to international collaboration is essential.
Securing funding and presenting one's research are also important aspects. Applying for travel grants or scholarships that support research and related travel expenses is recommended. Presenting at international conferences can also enhance the visibility and impact of one's research.
Abbas recommends committing adequate time and effort to one's independent research project, ensuring depth and quality within the limited period of travel. He suggests dedicating around 200–225 hours, as per some fellowship guidelines, to the project.
During class trips, Abbas advises students to write a paragraph to a page of reflection each day. He suggests refining these reflections once back on campus. This approach has proven academically enriching for him.
The article also provides guidance on human or animal subject research, funding for studies abroad, and information on various courses that include travel. For students considering an international academic travel program, Abbas's structured approach offers a valuable blueprint for making the most of the opportunities available and producing meaningful research outcomes.
- Haider Abbas, during his senior thesis, followed a structured approach to ensure the project's originality and impact, recommending students to also dedicate sufficient time and effort to their independent research projects, particularly when traveling abroad for academic purposes.
- Apart from focusing on his senior thesis, Abbas emphasized the importance of maintaining a personal lifestyle during travel, advocating for daily reflection journals to help document and learn from his experiences.
- In addition to his travels for academic research, Abbas also expressed his interest in exploring educational-and-self-development opportunities, advocating for online-education as a convenient way to continue learning during and after his international academic journeys.
