Research activity has become an important function of modern universities, significantly influencing both society and the universities themselves. For society, research contributes to economic development by increasing competitiveness, creating new business sectors, attracting investments, and driving innovation. For universities, research enhances their reputation through recognition in the scientific community and provides additional funding opportunities.

Despite its great importance, research is often neglected, especially in developing countries. A significant reason for this is the lack of research competencies among university faculty. These competencies are crucial for designing and conducting research projects as well as for publishing the results.

Our project, conducted in collaboration with Universidad Don Bosco in El Salvador, aims to promote the development of research competencies. We assess current competency levels and identify factors that influence research skills. The goal of this project is to contribute to improving the quality and quantity of research at universities in El Salvador.