Pre-Doctoral Programme K02: The Research Journey – From Thinking to International Publication

As part of the roadmap for developing in-depth research capabilities, on January 31st, the Pre-Doctoral Programme K02 continued with the special program "The Research Journey". Under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, the lesson opened up a comprehensive view of the path from initial ideas to appearing in prestigious scientific journals worldwide.

Building a standardized mindset and research foundation

The lesson begins with Associate Professor, Doctor. Nguyen Xuan Hung helped the students standardize their thinking about the nature of scientific research (NCKH). Instead of viewing research as a dry job, the instructor emphasized it as an eight-step "cyclical journey" where the connection between goals and methodology must always be strong.

Key areas of research thinking include:

• FINER Criteria: Guides students in evaluating a research topic based on the following factors: Feasible (Feasible), Interesting (Interesting), Novel (Novel), Ethical (Ethical), and Relevant (Relevant).
• Identifying Research Gaps: How to recognize "knowledge gaps" and skills for transitioning from practical problems to scientific theoretical frameworks.

Research design: The path from topic to hypothesis.

One of the key topics of the session was the techniques for constructing research designs. Students are guided through a detailed logical process starting from: Topic → Problem → Research Question → Hypothesis. Depending on the objectives of describing, exploring, or understanding causal relationships, the instructor analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, helping students choose the most suitable methodology for their individual projects.

Research skills and academic foundation building

To produce a high-quality article, data mining skills are a prerequisite. The lesson provided a modern and standardized set of search tools:

• Effectively leverage large databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and VOS.
• Standardize citations in APA/IEEE format for both articles and books.
• How to identify and use reputable sources of information, avoiding low-quality journals.

 

The journey to international publication: Perseverance is key

The most interesting part of the session was the process of getting articles to journals listed in the ISI/Scopus catalog. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung shared his practical experience regarding the peer review process:

• How to choose a journal that suits the content of your manuscript.
• The review process: From proofreading (revision) to proofreading (proofreading).
• Identify common situations encountered when working with editorial boards and the message about "perseverance" in scientific work.

The lesson concluded in a lively discussion atmosphere. The valuable experience from the faculty not only helps Pre-Doctoral Programme K02 students consolidate their knowledge but also ignites passion, giving them more confidence on their path to achieving a PhD and establishing their position in the international academic community.

Register for the Pre-Doctoral Programme – Class of March 2026 now to begin your professional research journey: LINK