On April 27, the 9th International Student Academic Salon, organized by the International College of Zhejiang University and hosted by the International Student Academic Club (ISAC), was successfully held. Under the theme "Publish or Perish? What No One Tells You About Academic Careers", the salon brought together more than 30 international students to explore what lies behind academic publishing and empower one another on the path to academic growth.

At the beginning of the event, Ms. Liu Cong, Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Office and advisor to the Academic Club, presented commemorative certificates to the guest speakers in recognition of their active participation and contributions to international student academic exchange activities.

Following this, outstanding doctoral students and alumni representatives from four different academic fields delivered in-depth and practical academic presentations covering topics such as paper topic selection, identifying innovation points, research methods, data processing, academic ethics, and journal submission strategies.

Ali Matin Nazar

Spring 2026 alumnus, Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Recipient of the 2025 “Experience China Academic Star ”Award

As an Associate Editor of Measurement (Elsevier, Q1), Ali systematically explained key principles that must be followed in paper submission and how to quickly capture the attention of editors and readers. He emphasized that, on the basis of solid research, scientific, precise, and concise academic writing is an essential skill for any researcher.

Munazza Ijaz

Ph.D. scholar in Plant Pathology, Recipient of the 2024 “Experience China Academic Star” Award

Munazza pointed out that the first step in research is finding a field one is truly passionate about. Drawing on her own experience, she demonstrated the research path of “real knowledge comes from the field” in agricultural sciences, and specifically pointed out that while focusing on research, building strong relationships with supervisors and peers is equally important, as outstanding results often come from close teamwork.

Saboor Saeed

2023 Ph.D. candidate in Psychiatry and Mental Health, Recipient of the International Student Outstanding Academic Award

Saboor focused on the use of figures and tables in academic papers. From the perspectives of accuracy and visual presentation, and based on his medical background, he shared many practical suggestions. He noted that clear, visually appealing, and journal-compliant charts are key to improving paper quality and acceptance rates.

Dinh Tuan Anh

2025 Ph.D. candidate in Educational Technology, Recipient of the International Student Outstanding Academic Award

Dinh Tuan Anh shared his experiences in research projects and international academic conferences. He encouraged students to actively seize academic exchange opportunities, to grow by sharing, and to develop through dialogue. He emphasized that the true impact of academic achievements often comes from stepping out of the lab or study and engaging with the broader academic community.

During the Q&A session, the atmosphere was lively. Students actively asked questions on topics such as "How to create an eye-catching paper title," "How to explore your academic interests," and "What special considerations should international students keep in mind when publishing papers." The four guest speakers provided detailed answers and offered practical, actionable advice.