This article presents an analysis intended to understand how the project Utopía of the Universidad de La Salle is an opportunity to develop research capabilities in the rural students. The results from this work provide a report of the follow-up and observation process of the research seminars making part of the project Utopía, in the study program of Agricultural Engineering. Results are interpreted through the lens of Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen’s capability approach and its application in education. These results are presented in three parts. The first one is about the research structure of the Agricultural Engineering program under the project Utopía. The second one deals with differentiating research elements integrated to the production practice. Finally, the third one is an analysis of the capabilities that rural college young students develop when coping with a research task and how they develop new skills throughout their educational process