In order to broaden the horizon of accounting researchers, enrich research topics, and fully employtheories and methodologyof other disciplinesin the cross-border communication, the “Guanya Cross Disciplines Statement” held as scheduled. On the afternoon of May 12, 2022, Professor Wu Xiao’an, the founding dean of the Research Institute of Global Chinese and Area Studies (RIGCAS)from Huaqiao University, was invited to the first lecture of the “GuanyaCross Disciplines Statement” to bring the theme of “Misunderstandings of Cross-disciplinary Work and Fieldwork”.

Firstly, Professor Liu Feng took advantage of the grand occasion of "Zhu Zhang Yuelu Lectures", and put forward the hope of holding a series of lectures by "Guanya Cross Disciplines Statement". By inviting experts and scholars from adjacent disciplines to share innovative research methods and concepts, change the existing concepts and understandings of accounting scholars, and enhance the comprehensive understanding of human society.Professor Liu made a wonderful opening remarksto this lecture.

Then, Professor Wu Xiao’an shared his research experience with interdisciplinary work and fieldwork. Professor Wubelieves that the charm of cross-discipline is to go beyond the relatively narrow research field, beyond the national culture, beyond time and space, and to truly face the human,the nature, and even the universe. At the same time, with the change of society, new concepts, models and paradigms emerge. Professor Wu Xiao’an gave an example based on his discipline of history, and showed that many excellent historians have backgrounds in literature, political science and anthropology. However, the misunderstanding of interdisciplinary research is that it’s not easy, and it is necessary to have a solid theoretical foundation in a certain discipline to conduct "cross-border" research.

In terms of fieldwork, Professor Wu combined with his own research on "Chinese Commerce and the Formation of Malay Dependent States 1882-1941", proposed that mastering first-hand research materials is a necessary condition for innovation. In the natural sciences, most research is conducted through laboratory simulations, while research in social sciences requires participation and investigationin the field. Professor Wu demonstrated the phenomena of different cultures and societies by recording all aspects of human life. Since most of the empirical data are fragmented, conducting research in the social sciences requires mastering the methodology of data organization.

In the end, Professor Wu Xiao’an had an communication and discussion with the teachers and students on the spot, and the lecture ended successfully!

Attachment：Foreword of "Guanya Cross Disciplines Statement"

                      Foreshow of Academic Lectures - Lecture 1 of Guanya Cross Disciplines Statement