Undergraduate Research as Fulfillment of Global Competence Skills Targets: Advantages and Opportunities of the IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium (IURS)

This chapter explores the role of the IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium (IURS) in fostering Global Competence (GC) skills among undergraduate students, particularly in the context of post-pandemic educational transformations. Drawing on the author’s experiences as a facilitator of IURS since 2021 and as a university professor in Japan, the chapter argues that well-guided undergraduate research (UR), exemplified by IURS, significantly contributes to students’ development of critical thinking, intercultural intelligence, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and strategic partnership building—key components of GC. The study situates UR within the framework of inquiry-based learning, as advocated by scholars like Harald A. Mieg, and defends its validity against criticisms regarding rigor and expertise by emphasizing structured mentorship and methodological training. In Japan, UR is deeply embedded in the seminar system, fostering close student-faculty collaboration. Nevertheless, challenges like limited institutional support and cultural emphasis on rote learning persist. IURS, evolving from its 2015 origins in Japan to a hybrid international platform, provides students with opportunities to engage in intercultural, interdisciplinary research presentations in an international context, enhancing their professional skills and global networks. By aligning UR with GC targets, this chapter highlights how IURS cultivates resilience, adaptability, and evidence-based reasoning, preparing students for complex global challenges and future career success. The interdisciplinary nature of UR is further explored, proposing three approaches—specialized, unified, and synergistic—to underscore its potential for fostering innovative, reality-congruent solutions for understanding a new model of internationalization.