Academics

UEF Students Build a Solid Foundation for Their Research Journey with Experts

12/02/2024

Through relentless effort and dedicated investment in each scientific topic, UEF students have achieved remarkable accomplishments, earning recognition in prestigious academic arenas.

To encourage students to engage in scientific research, foster creative thinking, teamwork, and strengthen self-learning and independent research capabilities, on November 22, the Faculty of Economics organized the first session of a workshop series on Scientific Research Guidance: “Methods of Literature Search, Writing a Research Overview, and Reference Citation – Developing Ideas and Designing Scientific Research.”

Scientific research activities always receive strong attention from both students and the University.

The seminar welcomed Dr. Đao Thi Bich Van, Lecturer at Vietnamese-German University, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tri, M.A., Director of the Vietnamese-German University Library. Both guest speakers are experienced researchers with numerous international projects and awards. Representing the Faculty of Economics, Mr. Tran Hoang Nam, M.A. – Head of the Real Estate Department – attended the session to accompany UEF students.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Bich Van guided students through what she described as a “spiral journey” of research.

“Research is not a straight path. Each time we revisit a known problem, we can discover new insights and values beyond expectation. Research is not only about finding answers but also about returning to view the problem from fresher and deeper perspectives,” she shared.

The speaker emphasized that choosing a suitable research topic plays a crucial role in every study.

Through detailed guidance, Dr. Vân analyzed the research approach via key steps: selecting a topic, narrowing the scope, formulating research questions, developing the design, and finalizing the proposal. These foundational steps help students set a clear direction for their academic projects. She encouraged students to choose topics that are close to their interests and relevant to real-life issues. Narrowing the research scope ensures focus and prevents digression, while transforming ideas into specific, well-defined research questions provides structure and direction for the entire study.

Issues of copyright and intellectual property were highlighted by Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tri.

Continuing the program, Ms. Tri introduced tools and methods to optimize literature search and data management. She helped students better understand how to effectively organize and process research materials.

With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), she also discussed how AI can serve as a powerful assistant in literature discovery and data analysis. However, she cautioned students about the importance of critical evaluation and verification when using AI-generated content.

“AI should only be a supportive tool, not a deciding factor,” Ms. Tri emphasized. “Students must ensure that all collected information is accurate, sourced properly, and does not violate copyright. This not only upholds academic integrity but also ensures research reliability.”

UEFers actively sharpen their scientific research skills.

Ms. Tri further illustrated her points with practical examples, such as searching for information from reputable commercial and educational organizations. These examples helped students not only understand effective methods but also recognize the importance of using sources creatively and responsibly.

Thanks to the experts’ insightful guidance, this first workshop session provided UEF students with a valuable foundation for developing research ideas and preparing for upcoming innovation competitions. The next session of this Scientific Research Workshop Series will take place on Friday, November 29 — stay tuned, UEFers, and get ready to equip yourselves with more essential research skills!