Keiser University Latin American Campus (KULAC) marked a significant step forward in its research agenda this year, staging its first‑ever Research Fair and introducing a series of activities designed to cultivate scholarly inquiry among students and faculty.
I. First Research Fair Draws Broad Participation
The December fair brought together more than 45 presenters showcasing 26 distinct projects across every academic program on campus:
– 9 projects from Software Engineering
– 7 projects from Political Science
– 6 projects from Psychology
– 3 multidisciplinary projects
– 1 project from Business Administration
– 1 project from an MBA graduate student
– 1 project from Academic Faculty
Following faculty review, six projects reached the finalist round. The top three, recognized at year’s‑end, were:
- “Fake News in Social Media” – Alexa Hawkins, Lucia Acosta & Elisa Granizo
- “Sport Performance and Crowd Size” – Andrew Walsh
- “Alcohol Consumption” – Ariana Padilla
II. Webinars Strengthen Foundational Skills
To reinforce research competencies, KULAC offered its first two‑part webinar series:
“Academic Citations and APA Format (7th Edition)” – Guidance on clear academic writing, in‑text citations, and bilingual referencing practices.
“Research Methods and Data Collection” – Overview of qualitative and quantitative techniques, ethical standards, and data‑management tools including SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Excel, SPSS, Spotfire, and Qualtrics.
Conference Highlights Organizational Psychology
A joint conference organized by the Business Administration and Political Science departments examined leadership, employee well‑being, and productivity in Nicaraguan companies. Presentations emphasized how managerial style influences job performance and organizational culture.
III. Project Colloquiums Provide Ongoing Mentorship
During Fall 2024, two Project Colloquiums created a forum for students to present work in progress—ranging from alcohol‑use patterns among Nicaraguan youth to cybersecurity in Southeast Asia—while receiving detailed feedback on research questions, methodology, and ethical considerations.
IV. Research Workshop for KULAC Faculty
During summer, KULAC faculty engaged in a series of workshop to enhance their research skills:
“How to write an academic paper” – Guidance on how to write and publish academic papers.
“How to use APA, 7th edition” – A follow-up to a webinar dedicated to the use of APA citation style in academic writing.
“Data collection and Data Analysis” – An overview of how to elaborate surveys and how to analyze the data collected during a research project.
“An Introduction to the Institutional Review Board” – A presentation dictated by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the RSC to the KULAC Faculty.
Outlook
The combination of the Research Fair, targeted webinars, departmental conferences, and mentored colloquiums underscores KULAC’s commitment to embedding research throughout the curriculum. Campus leadership plans to make the fair an annual fixture and to expand awards for outstanding work each semester, further strengthening a culture of academic inquiry in Nicaragua and the region.
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