Carving out a path

Exploring the impact of a student-partnership led undergraduate conference through hands-on experiential research opportunities

Authors

  • Sarah Clancy McMaster University
  • Shaina McDonald McMaster University
  • Raisa Jadavji University of Toronto
  • Claudia Meneguzzi McMaster University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v9i1.5844

Keywords:

student partners, student engagement, undergraduate conference, experiential learning, innovative and inclusive teaching practices

Abstract

This research paper examines a student-partnership project on developing the first undergraduate student conference in the Social Psychology Program at McMaster University. This article first situates our research within the broader pedagogical literature on student partnership and engagement in research-based learning opportunities, followed by an overview of the research methodology, including a discussion of the exit survey administered to the first conference participants in 2022. Further, we discuss significant findings and challenges that arose from this student-partnership project by reflecting on the experiences of the student-partner team members, examining feedback received from undergraduate student conference participants at the first undergraduate conference in the Social Psychology Program, and discussing how the original conference in January 2022 informed the development of the March 2023 and March 2024 conferences. We conclude with suggestions for future research in this area of student-partnership based research and share the lessons learned.

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Author Biographies

Sarah Clancy, McMaster University

Dr. Sarah Clancy (PhD).  Sarah Clancy is an Assistant (Teaching) Professor, with Permanence, in the Department of Health, Aging, and Society and the Social Psychology Program at McMaster University.

  • Corresponding author contact details:
    • Email: clancysj@mcmaster.ca
    • Phone: 905-525-9140 x27585
    • EMAIL is preferred and best method of contact, thank you!

Shaina McDonald, McMaster University

Shaina McDonald (M.A. Ed.).  Shaina McDonald is the Co-Investigator and Research & Conference Assistant, Social Psychology Program Alumna from McMaster University.  She currently works in the Careers & Experience unit for the Faculty of Humanities.

Raisa Jadavji, University of Toronto

Raisa Jadavji (B.A.). Raisa Jadavji is the Research Assistant and Conference Organizer, Social Psychology Program Alumna from McMaster University. Raisa is currently completing a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education at the University of Toronto.

Claudia Meneguzzi, McMaster University

Claudia Meneguzzi (B.A.). Claudia Meneguzzi is the Research Assistant and Conference Organizer, Social Psychology Program Alumna from McMaster University. Claudia is currently completing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at McMaster University.

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Published

2025-05-19

How to Cite

Clancy, S., McDonald, S., Jadavji, R., & Meneguzzi, C. (2025). Carving out a path: Exploring the impact of a student-partnership led undergraduate conference through hands-on experiential research opportunities. International Journal for Students as Partners, 9(1), 8–24. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v9i1.5844

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Sarah Clancy, Shaina McDonald , Claudia Meneguzzi , Raisa Jadavji

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