Empowered at Every Stage: Publishing in a Top Journal as an Undergraduate of Interdisciplinary Studies
I recently had the honour of co-authoring my first academic publication, titled “It Is Ambiguous, but I Know What I Am Doing”: Undergraduates’ Experiences and Agency in an Interdisciplinary Programme, published in Studies in Higher Education, a leading Q1 journal in the field. The paper explores how students navigate interdisciplinary undergraduate programmes — a topic especially close to my heart as a BASc (IS) student.
This project accompanied me through nearly half of my undergraduate journey. It was my first research assistant role outside of HKU, working alongside Dr Tracy Zou (CUHK), Dr Andrew Pau Hoang (HKU), and three of my fellow BASc (IS) classmates. Under Tracy’s mentorship, we were guided through the complexities of qualitative research, but more importantly, empowered to contribute meaningfully at every stage of the process. As undergraduate students, we were not just participants — we were co-creators. Our voices shaped the interview questions, the analysis, and ultimately, the final publication.
A standout moment for me was interviewing my fellow BASc students. Hearing their stories offered fresh insight into our shared experiences and gave me the space to reflect more deeply on my own academic path. It reminded me just how powerful student perspectives can be — and how important it is to centre them in research.
I’m grateful to have been part of such a collaborative and empowering project, and to a team that truly valued student voices at every step.
— Yasmine Casupanan, BASC (IS) Graduate, 2024