Prof. Dr. Rui Alexandre Castanho met with research assistants at the Istanbul Commerce University Faculty of Business to share his experiences regarding academic careers and scholarly publishing. Emphasizing the importance of quality in scientific output and the value of long-term career goals, Prof. Dr. Castanho also discussed opportunities for international collaboration and joint publications.
During a session organized by the Istanbul Commerce University Faculty of Business, Prof. Dr. Rui Alexandre Castanho shared his academic insights with research assistants. The program covered topics such as academic career planning, scholarly publishing, and international research collaborations. Prof. Dr. Castanho advised young academics to chart a career path aligned with their personal goals and to prioritize quality in their scientific work. The academic discussions were attended by Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay, Dean of the Istanbul Commerce University Faculty of Business; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihat Köksal, Head of the Department of International Trade (English); and Prof. Dr. Sema Yılmaz Genç from the Department of Economics at Yıldız Technical University. Following these discussions, Prof. Dr. Castanho met with all the research assistants from the Faculty of Business.
The session, which lasted an hour and a half and followed a Q&A format, addressed topics including career planning, strategies for scholarly publishing, specialization within research fields, international mobility, and academic networking.
Prof. Dr. Castanho stated that decisions regarding an academic career should not be based solely on short-term circumstances. Emphasizing the importance for young academics to forge a unique career path aligned with their own goals, Prof. Dr. Castanho pointed out that one’s publications and projects should, over time, form a coherent research trajectory where each element complements the others.
Noting that quality must be the primary priority in scientific publishing, Prof. Dr. Castanho remarked that the rejection of articles or project proposals is a natural part of the scientific production process.
The discussion also explored how scientific work can contribute to society. Prof. Dr. Castanho suggested transforming research findings into policy briefs that could be utilized by decision-makers. He further highlighted that conferences and scientific meetings offer significant opportunities for fostering international academic relations and establishing new collaborations.
During the interactive segment of the session, research assistants shared their master’s and doctoral research with Prof. Dr. Castanho, who provided feedback on topics such as deindustrialization, energy security, asset pricing via machine learning, and digital trends in logistics.
Concluding the session, Prof. Dr. Castanho expressed his willingness to maintain contact with the research assistants, noting that the meeting had laid the groundwork for potential joint publications and scientific collaborations. The Faculty of Business Administration organized this program as part of its efforts to strengthen international academic engagement and research collaborations. The meeting aimed to facilitate the transfer of international experience to early-career researchers, expand scientific communication networks, and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Rui Alexandre Castanho, who conducts research in the fields of sustainable development and regional growth, serves as a deputy coordinator at the VALORIZA Research Center, based at the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre in Portugal. Prof. Dr. Castanho also serves as an ambassador for the European Climate Pact.
