On March 11, Professor Huang Hansheng, former president of Fujian Normal University, and Professor Bai Jinxiang, former president of Jishou University, were invited to deliver the opening lectures for the new semester course “Academic Paper Writing” for all graduate students at the College of Physical Education, Guizhou University (GZU). The lectures were held at the circular lecture hall of Chongyi Building. Prior to the lectures, Yang Wei, Secretary of the CPC GZU Committee, and Wu Pan, Vice President of the university, held discussions with the two professors on graduate education and academic innovation, exploring new pathways for integrating sports with education and offering insights into the development of the university’s sports discipline.

Professor Huang Hansheng began with a lecture titled “Academic Paper Writing and Research Methods”. He emphasized the importance of academic vigor throughout the entire process of paper writing, from topic selection to paper formatting. He stressed that graduate students in the sports discipline must “fasten the first button” of academic research by developing strong awareness in academic ethics and research norms while cultivating their interdisciplinary perspectives. He encouraged students to draw on sociological methodologies and embrace new tools such as big data analytics to conduct research that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. He called on students to stay attuned to the frontiers of academic research, focus on original studies in sports science, and produce research outcomes that reflect the distinct characteristics of the College of Physical Education at GZU.

Professor Bai Jinxiang followed with a lecture titled “Paper Writing and Academic Research Techniques”, in which he systematically analyzed the research process in the field of sports. Beginning with the logical loop of “problem identification – literature review – methodology design”, he emphasized the importance of aligning research topics with national sports strategies, while balancing theoretical innovation with practical relevance. Using vivid language and examples, Professor Bai explained the “five key elements” of academic writing and shared techniques such as the “funnel approach” to structuring an academic paper’s introduction.

The lectures are a key component of the College’s “Year of Academic Quality Enhancement” initiative and are expected to help both its faculty and students apply advanced research methodologies to produce high-quality academic work. They are also anticipated to help advance the development of the university’s sports discipline. Graduate students in attendance spoke highly of the “content-rich” lectures, noting that the expert insights, case analyses, and interactive Q&A sessions significantly deepened their understanding of academic research and methodology, and gave a strong boost to their future academic endeavors.

Editor: Zhang Chan; He Xuan

Chief Editor: Li Xufeng

Senior Editor: Ding Long

Translator: Jia Haibo