On 11 and 25 November, to maintain the development momentum, sharing sessions of research fund application in the field of Science and Technology, as well , and the numbers of UIC's incentive policies for fund applicatias Humanities and Social Sciences, were respectively held in UIC. Teachers shared their experience in fund application, and paper publishingon were introduced. (selected from UIC official   website, URL: https://www.uic.edu.cn/en/info/1076/8625.htm)

Here is the sharing session from Professor Holger Briel, Dean of Division of Culture and Creativity

As UIC is maturing, one of the most important areas of development is research. In order to highlight this topic, on 25 November 2020 the Research Development and Knowledge Transfer Office put on a Research Sharing event. Chaired by Professor Weijia JIA, (Vice President of Research and Development), three seasoned academics were invited to discuss successful research engagement. Two of the three invited speakers spoke about how to successfully bid for a Regional or National Research Grant, which both of them had been awarded. Professor Dr Holger Briel, Dean of the Division of Culture and Creativity, offered advice on how to understand what editors of academic journals look for in submitted manuscripts. He stressed the fact that first of all creativity in research topics is highly sought after. Motivational factors for researchers need to show their passion in their writing. Prof Briel stressed the Japanese concept of Ikigai (reason for living), which combines what a person is good at with her passion and what the world needs. If all three of these factors are evident in a manuscript, editors will show their appreciation. Other success factors include detailed and meticulous research, understanding what the educational direction of a journal is, who its audience is, and following its style sheet religiously. If all of these requirements are fulfilled, there is a good chance that a manuscript will be accepted.

But Professor Briel also stressed the fact that many manuscripts are nevertheless not accepted. He stated that this is normal procedure for academia to have a submission rejected and not to lose faith. The maxim After the submission is before the submission will help researchers to achieve resilience and gather themselves up to submit the piece of research to another journal and/or to write the next paper.

Lastly, Prof Briel stressed that today there are many more opportunities to publish globally than before and that the internet has become the most important reserve of research undertaken today. There are many open access journals and webpages which are very interested in publishing research and that opportunities abound for those who persevere seek them out.  

Reference reading:

• Initiatives encourage faculty research:https://www.uic.edu.cn/en/info/1076/8625.htm

• 我校科研基金申报人文社科专场分享会顺利举行（附分享者PPT）: https://rdkto.uic.edu.cn/info/1011/1123.htm

Writer: Prof. Holger Briel

Photographer: MPRO

Editor: Ms. Rita XU

Special thanks to RDKTO & MPRO