Professor Lu Maozu Gives Lecture on "How to Turn Real-World Problems into Research Questions"
On the afternoon of October 8, 2026, a special lecture titled "How to Turn Real-World Problems into Research Questions," delivered by renowned economist and financial scholar Professor Lu Maozu, was held in Room C108 of the Economics Building at Xiamen University. The lecture was chaired by Associate Professor Li Kai, Director of the International Master's and Doctoral Programs in Economics at Xiamen University, and attracted international graduate students from multiple countries.
At the beginning of the lecture, Associate Professor Li Kai introduced Professor Lu Maozu's academic background and research areas to the international students present. Professor Lu then addressed the lecture theme, drawing on more than 40 years of teaching and research experience at British universities. He compared the economics training models of top universities in Europe and the United States and analyzed the unique advantages for international graduate students at Xiamen University in conducting academic research.
Professor Lu opened with the question "Why choose to study at Xiamen University in China rather than at universities in other countries?" to guide students in reflecting on China's unique research value. He pointed out that China's uninterrupted cultural tradition spanning thousands of years and its rapid economic transformation over the past four decades provide a rare and distinctive research context for global economic studies. He also contrasted economics with physics and mathematics, emphasizing that mainstream economic theories largely originate from historical crises and that historical context is an important foundation for economic research. Comparative observation, he noted, helps one perceive differences in everyday life and formulate questions.
During the Q&A session, the atmosphere was lively. Graduate students from Pakistan, Germany, Vietnam, and other countries enthusiastically raised questions on topics such as research topic selection, literature review methods, data collection, and the standardized use of artificial intelligence. One student asked whether combining international trade with an economic dimension to explore linkages among China, Africa, and Europe would constitute a reasonable research approach. Another student asked what methods could be used to overcome data acquisition difficulties when focusing on China's central banking system and its role in stabilizing the economy under data constraints.
Professor Lu patiently addressed each question in detail. He advised students to clarify their research direction and narrow their research scope based on the courses they had taken, and to proactively communicate with their supervisors to refine their research frameworks. He encouraged them to avoid overly broad economic research topics and to focus on cross-country comparative analysis in order to produce research outcomes of unique value. Regarding data acquisition difficulties, he suggested choosing research topics involving historical or inter-institutional comparisons. Professor Lu also cited the latest academic standards issued by Harvard University, reminding students not to rely on AI to generate complete papers and emphasizing that the core of academic research always lies in grounding oneself in real-world problems and producing original thinking.
Finally, Associate Professor Li Kai summarized the lecture and expressed gratitude to Professor Lu Maozu for his excellent sharing. The lecture concluded successfully amid warm applause. Attending students said that the lecture was practical and highly targeted, offering strong inspiration for distilling research topics from real-world problems and refining research design, and that they benefited greatly.
Profile of Professor Lu Maozu
Professor Lu Maozu holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Southampton and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford. He formerly served as Director of the China Research Centre and Professor of Economics at the Business School of the University of Strathclyde, and as Professor of Economics at the University of Southampton. He has devoted many years to research and education. During the early stages of WISE's establishment, Professor Lu provided substantial assistance and support for its launch and development.