The 164th "Jingshi Economics & Management · Expert Forum Lecture Series" was held in Room 1722 of the Rear Main Building at 9:30 a.m. on May 18, 2026. BNUBS invited Professor Shaker A. Zahra from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, who delivered a lecture entitled How to Publish in Top-tier Journals. More than 30 faculty members, master’s and doctoral students from various departments attended the event, which was presided over by Professor Zhou Jianghua, Associate Dean of BNUBS.

At the start of the lecture, Professor Zhou Jianghua gave a brief introduction to Professor Zahra and extended a warm welcome to him. Professor Zahra’s research focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation in technology-intensive industries, with a particular emphasis on the role of technology in global competition. His works have been published in all leading management journals, making him one of the most cited scholars in this field. He has served on the editorial boards of 25 top journals and guest-edited over 20 special issues. Additionally, he has delivered more than 90 keynote speeches at international conferences. Professor Zahra is the recipient of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, the highest honor in global entrepreneurship studies. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees by universities in seven countries including Belgium, Italy and Germany, and is a Fellow of professional bodies such as the Academy of Management (AOM) and the Academy of International Business (AIB).

Drawing on his decades of experience in paper publication and peer review, Professor Zahra shared key insights into writing and publishing papers in top academic journals. He pointed out that a compelling research question is the cornerstone of high-quality papers. Researchers should identify research directions based on debates in existing literature, contradictions in real-world phenomena and theoretical gaps, rather than merely describing phenomena or repeating established theories. Addressing the challenges faced by scholars outside the United States in journal publication, he stressed that research should not be confined to a single national context. Instead, scholars need to explore the universal theoretical value of local phenomena. For instance, the unique experience of China’s economic development can not only offer references for other developing countries, but also challenge and enrich mainstream Western theories. He elaborated on four core elements of academic paper writing: solid theoretical foundations, rigorous research methodologies, distinct theoretical contributions and broad academic relevance. Targeting common difficulties encountered by Chinese scholars in publishing, he put forward practical suggestions, including strengthening international collaboration, leveraging local research contexts and attaching importance to logical narration in papers.

The latter part of the event featured a working paper commentary session. Five young scholars from Beijing Normal University, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Capital University of Economics and Business and other institutions presented their ongoing research. Professor Zahra provided targeted and constructive revisions regarding theoretical framework construction, methodological design and contribution highlighting for each paper.

Professor Zahra’s sharing sparked keen interest among the audience. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as how to respond to reviewers’ comments, strike a balance between theoretical innovation and data accessibility, and secure key resources for Chinese scholars publishing in top journals. The venue was filled with a vibrant academic atmosphere. In response to the questions, Professor Zahra advised researchers to maintain an open attitude toward reviewer feedback. While respecting reviewers’ suggestions, scholars should uphold their core research findings and convince reviewers through solid reasoning.

The event concluded with sincere gratitude from all attendees for Professor Zahra’s wonderful sharing. The 164th Expert Forum Lecture Series drew to a successful end amid warm applause.

Contributed by Academic Practice Department of the Graduate Student Union

Edited by Sun Yue

Reviewed by Hu Conghui