Yingda Guo, Ph D candidate, University of Hong Kong
Introduction
What does it really take to thrive during a doctoral journey beyond just finishing a high-quality thesis and passing your thesis defense? I have interviewed past doctoral students looking for tips on successfully navigating doctoral studies and aiming to learn from their experiences. For one of my interviewees, Dr. Jason Lin Cong, it’s about more than academic outputs, it’s about choosing with intention, staying focused, and lifting others along the way.
Now an assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong, Jason completed his PhD at HKU, co-authoring widely with his primary supervisor Professor Liz Jackson on topics such as Sinophobia in Hong Kong media and representations of ethnic minorities in Mainland textbooks. His research has received awards from governments and institutions, including Spencer Foundation and Fulbright Scholarship. Curious about how he balanced academic excellence with his values, I spoke with Jason to understand how doctoral students can succeed while staying true to their passions and ethical principles.
Staying Academically Efficient
When asked how he managed coursework, publishing, and conferences, Jason emphasized the importance of thematic focus:
I try to make conference presentations or paper publications focused on one or two major topics I care about. For example, I did research about ethnic minorities in textbooks. My own thesis is about Chinese identity, so I combine them and form them into one big project. When I do conference presentations, I mostly present findings about this project.
This focus deeply resonated with me. In my first doctoral year with intensive courses to take, I shaped most of my coursework (e.g, individual presentations and term papers) around my thesis topic in different levels, which helped me keep building my literature review whilst gathering constructive feedback from peers and professors. I later presented different sections of my thesis at various conferences. Staying thematically focused helped me streamline my academic work without losing depth.
Choosing the Most Suitable Research Topic
Jason encouraged doctoral students to pick topics that truly matter to them:
A PhD or EdD is not just a degree, it is also a path you choose. When you select a topic, you probably need to follow it for about 10 years. This might be a lonely business, so you should choose a topic that really matters to you. If you don’t have the self-motivation to do it, you need other people to encourage you and that is not always available over the long term.
His advice hits especially hard in our current competitive academic climate, where many doctoral students feel pressured to pursue trending topics for publication and career opportunities over personal passions. Here at HKU, I’ve noticed some students choosing research about AI in education simply because they think it’s easier to publish such work, not necessarily because it interests them. Increasing number of doctoral students I know have also mentioned the need to pay close attention to popular research in higher education while deciding their thesis topics for future employment opportunities. Whilst strategic topic selection is totally understandable in light of job market pressures in the academia, Jason reminds us that genuine interest sustains momentum. As research shows, students driven by internal motivation are more likely to persist and perform better when facing academic challenges than those motivated by external rewards (Lynch, Salikhova, & Salikhova, 2018). Passion is a necessity, rather than a luxury in doctoral work.
Creating Inclusive Academic Spaces
Jason also shed light on the subtle social dynamics at conferences, urging doctoral students to think and act beyond professional gain:
In academic conferences, you should realize that there are diverse people around you, including minorities. There will be people who are left over in a conference. In such situations, I believe we need to treat everyone equally, so as to be a nice person to everyone. You need to try to see everyone as equally as possible, not just socialize with people that you think would be helpful in your future career.
This attitude reflects what Sanger and Gleason (2020) define as an inclusive academic environment that aims to make learning and socialization fair and accessible to all. Through my experience of being a conference organizer, I’ve realized that small, intentional actions such as checking in on left-out attendees and actively including them in casual conversations on lunch breaks help them feel included. Creating inclusion doesn’t necessarily require grand acts, it just takes awareness and kindness.
Conclusion
Jason’s advice reminds us that success in a doctoral journey isn’t just about getting published or building a CV. It’s about choosing a topic you are passionate about, staying focused on your vision, and treating people from all backgrounds with respect and kindness. The values of passion, focus, and inclusion don’t just help you survive your doctoral studies, they help you to thrive.
References
Lynch, M. F., Salikhova, N. R., & Salikhova, A. B. (2018). Internal Motivation Among Doctoral Students: Contributions from the student and from the students’ environment. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13, 255-272. https://doi.org/10.28945/4091
Sanger, C. S., & Gleason, N. W. (2020). Diversity and Inclusion in Global Higher Education: Lessons from Across Asia. Palgrave Macmillan. https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/38387
