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The capstone experience

The capstone experience – developing global graduates

Dave Lewis (Faculty of Biological Sciences)


Project Overview

The University of Leeds is one of an elite group of Higher Education institutions globally that requires all undergraduates, irrespective of discipline, to undertake a final year research project.

Most students do not go onto careers in research and many will go onto careers outside their discipline. In their current form, many final year undergraduate or taught postgraduate research projects, with their focus on research experience, do not prepare the majority of graduates for the diversity of careers they go onto. Radical change is required, for students to be offered the opportunity to undertake a capstone project, with its focus on personal and professional development, rather than a traditional research project.

Through drawing upon good practice from around the world, and across all disciplines and sectors; in combination with ideas at a local level the project aims to create innovative and inspirational education experiences for students.  The project will work in collaborative partnership with colleagues and students from six Schools across the University to apply the evidence in creating capstone opportunities within undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes.


The research approach

Examples of good practice will be gathered through undertaking multiple systematic reviews of tightly defined research questions. A mixed methods approach will be applied to evaluate outputs and outcomes of curriculum development, gathering the views of all stakeholders.


If you would like to find out more about the project contact Dave (d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk).

Each fellowship has a project sponsor that helps the fellows achieve impact across the institution. The sponsor for this fellowship is Kenny McDowell.

Project start date: September 2021