Research competency profile for civil engineering students at the University of Holguín, Cuba

Abstract

This article analyzes the implementation of the research competency profile to promote the professional training of civil engineering students. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the development and implementation of the research competency profile, structured based on the stages that characterize the logic of applying the scientific method, on the research training of civil engineering students. The research was conducted using a quantitative experimental approach, employing a pre-experiment design, which is statistically supported by the sign test with a 95% confidence level. Document review, scientific observation, and source triangulation techniques were used to collect the information. The sample was intentional and consisted of 26 students who were in their third and fourth years of the program during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 academic years. The main results of this research indicate that the development of the research competency profile based on the recognition of the stages that characterize the logic of the scientific method contributed significantly to the development of students’ research competency. Likewise, a gap was identified between the level of research competency that civil engineering students should demonstrate and the quality of their academic and work performance. It is concluded that the application of the research competency profile significantly contributes to strengthening the research training of civil engineering students at the University of Holguín, Cuba.