How Should Doctoral Students Embark on Their Academic Careers? The Third Session of the Doctoral Students' Research Capability Enhancement Project at the Business School successfully Launched Its First and Second Lectures
On the afternoon of November 13, 2023, the Business School, Central University of Finance and Economics held the first and second lectures of the third session of the Doctoral Students' Research Capability Enhancement Project in the MBA Center's auditorium. The forum invited Zhang Guangli from the Department of Finance and Financial Management and Dr. Zuo Yuhan from the Department of Organization and Human Resource Management as guest speakers, who provided in-depth explanations on the academic development plans for doctoral students. Nearly 30 doctoral students from the 2022 and 2023 grades attended the event. Associate Professor Dou Chao, Director of the Doctoral Program at the Business School, organized and prepared for this event. The Doctoral Students' Research Capability Enhancement Project is a special initiative by the Business School to enhance the research abilities of its doctoral students. The project is structured as a combination of “lectures + guidance,” encompassing all essential aspects of academic research. It operates on an annual basis, with each session comprising multiple lectures that cover various professional directions, including research topics, literature reviews, research design, methodologies, thesis writing, paper submission, and revision.
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At the commencement of the lecture, Deputy Dean Liu Xiaoyuan of the Business School introduced the significance, construction goals, and program arrangements of the Doctoral Students' Research Capability Enhancement Project of the Business School. He emphasized that the project is a unique initiative by the Business School to enhance the academic abilities of doctoral students, aiming to assist students in quickly establishing a scientific and reasonable academic development plan for doctoral students and rapidly improving their scientific research abilities. He hoped that the students would make good use of this platform to quickly enter the state of scientific research and balance the rhythm of their studies, research, and life.
The first lecture was hosted by Associate Professor Dou Chao, Director of the Doctoral Program at the Business School. Mr. Dou provided a brief introduction of the speaker, Associate Professor Zhang Guangli. Associate Professor Zhang Guangli is a faculty member and a doctoral supervisor at the Business School. He has led research projects funded by NSFC and the Ministry of Education's Humanities and Social Sciences Program. His primary research focuses on corporate finance and regional economics in China. He has published over 20 papers in important journals such as Economic Research Journal, The Journal of World Economy, Journal of Financial Research, China Economic Review, and Finance Research Letters. Associate Professor Zhang also serves as an anonymous reviewer for journals like Journal of Economic Research, Journal of Management Sciences in China, and Finance Research Letters.
Associate Professor Zhang Guangli delivered a concise, accessible, and visually engaging presentation on the five essential skills that doctoral students need to develop: independent research ability, communication skills, academic thinking, teaching ability, and self-awareness. He encouraged students to focus on improving their academic well-being and provided detailed, insightful advice on various aspects of academic research, including finding a research topic, writing literature reviews, utilizing academic resources, responding to journal submissions, and maintaining a positive academic mindset. He emphasized the importance of diligent practice and enhancing one's intuition, while also encouraging the development of good habits and a healthy mental state.
The second lecture was hosted by Professor Liu Xiaoyuan, Deputy Dean of the Business School. Professor Liu introduced the academic background of the speaker, Dr. Zuo Yuhang. Dr. Zuo Yuhang graduated from Zhejiang University and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization and Human Resource Management. His primary research areas are digital human resource management and the effectiveness of content creators on creative platforms. He leads a youth science fund project supported by NSFC and has published multiple papers in important journals such as Journal of Management World and Journal of Career Development.
Dr. Zuo Yuhang drew on his research experience and expertise in human resource management to provide a detailed analysis of how to select meaningful research questions and publish impactful studies. He inspired doctoral students to think big and start small, offering examples to illustrate the macro research framework of "issues—challenges—research questions.” He also provided micro-level research advice, including extensive reading, mastering methods, participating in academic communities, and using advanced productivity tools, thus offering valuable insights to the students.
The presentations by the two speakers were clear, well-structured, and easy to understand. By citing real-world cases and sharing personal experiences, they helped doctoral students connect theoretical knowledge with practical situations, enhancing the practicality and applicability of their research. The attending faculty and students also actively participated in the discussions, fostering deeper exchanges and more in-depth explorations among them.
