On October 8, 2024, Assistant Professor Chen Rui from the College of Management at Shenzhen University invited Distinguished Professor Jason Bennett Thatcher from the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, to give a special lecture on publishing high-level journal papers. The lecture, titled "Designing and Building a Research Agenda: How to Build a Paper Set Leading to Top Ranked Publications," was held at the Mingli Building B104 on the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University.

Professor Thatcher shared valuable advice on academic career planning, drawing on his years of research experience. He noted that while publishing in top-tier journals is a goal for many scholars, the process often requires extensive knowledge accumulation and methodological learning. For young scholars, focusing solely on top-tier journal publications may risk delayed output and even impact career development. Using his 15-year research journey in social media and recruitment as an example, Professor Thatcher detailed how systematic research planning can lead to short-term results while laying a solid foundation for long-term top-tier journal publications. He emphasized the need for researchers to build deep domain knowledge and to make timely periodic summaries and publications to maintain a continuous output of academic achievements.

The audience showed great enthusiasm for the topic, especially regarding how to balance high-quality research with academic publishing in the early stages of a career. Many questions were raised, and Professor Thatcher patiently answered the students' inquiries, encouraging young researchers to consider not only journal impact but also their own interests and societal needs when choosing research topics, gradually establishing a forward-looking research agenda. Professor Thatcher also engaged in in-depth discussions with the teachers present, enhancing the students' understanding of the issues at hand. Following the lecture, Professor Thatcher conducted an expert consultation session, addressing questions and doubts from teachers and students in their research fields. The academic lecture concluded with a round of applause from teachers and students.