From master's dissertation to publication with Xiaochen Liu

From dissertation to publication: Xiaochen Liu's story

Professor Maurizio Marinelli has completed a Special Issue titled ‘Tianjin: History, memory, and heritage in a hyper-colonial-globalising port-city’ published in the Built Heritage academic journal. This was an excellent opportunity for Xiaochen Liu, who completed her MSc in Prosperity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity in 2023, and whose dissertation was supervised by Professor Marinelli, to publish her dissertation.

Below, Xiaochen walks us through her experiences of publishing a dissertation.

Defining global prosperity through dissertation research

Before joining the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity as a student, I completed my bachelor’s degree of finance and statistics in Canada, giving me a quantitative-based study background. During my studies on the Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship MSc I took several modules, such as 'China and Global Prosperity', the 'Connected Innovation Project', and 'Researching Transformative Entrepreneurship'. These courses allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of problems society is currently facing and how we can address these problems and achieve prosperity through transformative entrepreneurship.  

My dissertation was titled 'The effects of commercialisation on urban heritage in Tianjin: a study of citizens’ livelihood in the Five Avenues (Wudadao) historical district', which examines the intersection of commercialisation and sustainable development within the context of urban heritage conservation. My thesis also maintains a specific focus on its effects on citizens’ livelihoods. My research interests are centred on examining the socio-economic impacts of urban heritage commercialisation on citizens’ livelihoods, and an evaluation of the relationship with urban prosperity in terms of social value and equality, which is a research gap in the study of urban heritage development. My master's dissertation was a really important foundation for my career, which enhances the academic and professional credibility and opens doors for future research. My dissertation fits well within the Built Heritage journal which has a special focus issue with similar theme of urban heritage development.

I would define global prosperity as equitable growth that addresses systemic inequalities and ensures that all individuals have access to opportunities for improved quality of life. It goes beyond economic indicators alone, encompasses multidimensional progress in areas such as economic stability, health, education, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and political governance. I became really interested in studying prosperity because it provides insights into the structures that enable communities and nations to achieve sustainable development. By identifying and addressing disparities, researchers and policymakers can create frameworks for more inclusive growth, ultimately fostering peaceful international relationships and reducing vulnerability to global challenges like pandemics, climate change, and economic downturns.

Preparing for thesis publication: From draft to final approval

During the process of publishing my thesis, I prepared a draft article which I refined with my dissertation supervisor Professor Marinelli. I made a lot of revisions to my dissertation, including adapting to an article format, length, and revising my literature review. I spent two months preparing the draft version of the article and revised the draft three times before publication. During this process, I communicated frequently with reviewers and editors for their suggestions on the specific research question and after roughly one month of peer review and proofreading for grammar and references, the final version was approved by the dissertation publisher. One of the biggest challenges I faced during the research process was handling rejections, many of which I faced while conducting in-person—rather than online—surveys in the city. There are a lot of benefits to publishing a master's dissertation. For me, these include opening doors for future research and career opportunities.

Xiaochen's advice on how to publish your dissertation or thesis

My advice for students who want to start their dissertation research is:

• Select a journal that aligns closely with your field of research and its specific focus.
• A dissertation is typically long and detailed whereas published articles are concise and focused on key findings, so it’s more effective to focus on one primary research question or core set of findings rather than the entire dissertation.
• Keep an open mind and don’t take rejection as failure. Learning from reviewers’ feedback is a good method to improve the work and persistence is always the key, many papers are not accepted on the first submission. Revisions often lead to a stronger final publication.

From dissertation to career

Since publishing her dissertation, Xiaochen has embarked on an exciting career as a management trainee in Hong Kong. Her work focuses on energy and mixed-use real estate development, connecting closely to her research on urban commercialisation. By applying her academic insights to real-world projects, Xiaochen is contributing to the sustainable transformation of urban spaces, showcasing the tangible impact of her research and dedication.

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