IBSAUD College · Program

Research
Foundations.

A cohort-based initiative teaching early-career students the fundamentals of research — from question formation to methodology. Built for complete beginners: no prior research experience or exposure required.

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Curriculum

The Four Capitals
Framework

RFP organizes its curriculum around the Four Capitals of Research Preparation — mapping the full range of what foundational research preparation requires.

Capital I
Cognitive
How to Think in Research
Forming research questions, evaluating evidence, correlation vs causation, argument construction, and AI output critique. The most intensively developed capital.
Capital II
Procedural
How Research is Done
Reading research papers, understanding methods, moving from question to design, understanding data structure. Taught generically — the logic is universal.
Capital III
Normative
What Good Research Looks Like
Ethics, integrity, citation as an ethical act, open research, epistemic authorship in the AI age. Students understand WHY the rules exist.
Capital IV
Relational
Community Dynamics
How research communities operate, how knowledge is validated collectively, and how to engage with peers and mentors across disciplines.
◈
Epistemic Standards — Grounded Throughout
Every element upholds IBSAUD's Epistemic Standards Policy — grounded in recognized knowledge systems, transparent in its evidentiary basis. View Policy Document ↗

Theoretical Foundation

Built on Recognized Frameworks

RFP is built on three internationally recognized theoretical anchors. These frameworks were not chosen for prestige — they were chosen because they are the most credible, widely adopted, and directly relevant to what RFP is trying to achieve.

Primary Anchor
Research Skill Development Framework
Willison & O'Regan, 2007
The primary structural backbone of RFP — mapping research skill development across levels of student autonomy.
Philosophical Anchor
Developing Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
Healey & Jenkins, 2009
Grounds RFP's philosophy in inquiry-based learning and the relationship between teaching and research.
Horizon Anchor
Vitae Researcher Development Framework 2025
Vitae, 2025
Orients RFP toward the full lifecycle of researcher development — keeping the horizon in view from day one.

Structure

The Five Modules

The program runs through five sequential modules — each building on the last, from orientation to applied research communication.

01
Introduction
Orientation to the program, IBSAUD's epistemic standards, and what it means to engage in research as a beginner.
02
Thinking Like a Researcher
Forming research questions, recognizing assumptions, understanding the difference between curiosity and inquiry.
03
How Research is Done
Reading papers, understanding methodology, moving from a question to a design — the procedural logic of research.
04
Evidence, Integrity & Argument
Evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, scientific ethics, citation as an ethical act — why the rules exist, not just what they are.
05
Communicating Research & AI Literacy
Writing and presenting findings, understanding AI's role in research, and critically evaluating AI-generated outputs.

What You Get

Program Offerings

Credential
Certificate
Participants who complete the program receive an IBSAUD certificate of completion.
Network
Community Access
Access to the broader IBSAUD network of researchers, mentors, and alumni.
Skills
Epistemic Foundations
Core intellectual skills — critical thinking, research methodology, scientific ethics — that last beyond any single program.
Eligibility
  • High schooler, undergraduate, or early master's student
  • Made specifically for complete beginners — zero prior research experience or exposure needed, we build every skill from the ground up
  • Motivated to contribute to science and universal development

FAQ

How long is the program?
Several weeks, structured around the Four Capitals framework — designed to fit around your schedule.
Do I need prior research experience?
No — and that's the point. RFP is designed for complete beginners who have never been exposed to research before. There's no prerequisite knowledge; the entire program builds from the ground up.
Is there a cost to enroll?
Nope.

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Apply for the
Research Foundations Program