How do students experience research in teaching-intensive higher education institutions in Mozambique?

In higher education, the benefits of linking teaching and research are voiced mostly by academics, while a student perspective is largely missing from the debate. In the present study, students’ experience of research integration was explored with a focus on reflection about research, participation in research, awareness of current research and motivation to do research. In total, 261 students from eight undergraduate courses at two public universities in Mozambique were involved. The findings of this study establish a baseline in research experiences in these universities. Compared with a critical benchmark (80%), students’ average research experiences are consistently below par. Furthermore, significant differences between university courses can be observed. The findings reflect the nature of teaching-intensive universities and suggest the linkage between teaching and research is possibly diffuse or indirect in these institutions. Building on this research, a revised Students’ Perceptions of Research Integration Questionnaire is put forward as a tool for future studies to boost the teaching–research nexus (trn) in Mozambican universities.