The research–teaching nexus in higher education has been strongly discussed and debated, especially when it comes to developing research competence and introducing evidence-based practice into the master’s degree curricula for Educational Sciences and Engineering Sciences. Previous systematic reviews have summarised the manner in which research is taught in higher education, and revealed that there is a lack of cross-disciplinary comparative analysis in research–pedagogy in various scientific disciplines, as well as in assessing and measuring the development of research competence (RC) at the level of higher education. To provide a comprehensive picture of the RC development and of the teaching RC, a scoping review (SCR) methodology was performed. For the purpose of the present study, a total of 33 research articles were analysed to investigate RC development in Engineering and in Social Sciences. RC is regarded as a core competence in Engineering Sciences, while in Educational Sciences, it is not yet a standardised concept. Despite differences in Social and Engineering studies, the review revealed some common aspects concerning RC modelling, based on specific key skills that students are supposed to acquire at the master’s degree level. This SCR draws our attention to the complex process of RC development as a long process requiring practice and activities implemented throughout the entire higher education process, regardless of scientific field.

Introduction: The problem of academic dropout in the first year of studies represents an important issue for higher education, in that it accounts for an important indicator of quality but also for the negative consequences it produces on individual, institutional and social level. The main aim of the study is to validate and evaluate a robust measure of overall academic maladjustment.Method: The participants were 809 first-year students from various Romanian universities.Results: The results showed a reliable version of the instrument with a factorial structure that did not deviate significantly from the authors’ initial model. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unified score including six dimensions, procrastination, dishonesty – unethical behavior, test anxiety, machiavellian attitude, neuroticism, and somatization. Our results confirmed that besides academic achievement, personal factors are important indicators of adjustment, showing that personal resources management, emotional and behavioral strategies are components of adjustment. Our study revealed a medium and positive correlation between overall maladjustment and academic dropout intention, procrastination seemed to be the most relevant predictor of dropout intention.Discussion: Academic adjustment acts as a safeguard against dropping out, and it is crucial to acknowledge that most students enter college with the intention of completing their studies.