On August 8, Prof. Guoliang YANG from the Chinese Academy of Sciences delivered a lecture to UIC colleagues and students on the topic of “Eliminating congestion by increasing inputs in R&D activities of Chinese universities”. The Dean of DBM, Prof. Steve Liu, gave a welcome speech and introduced Prof. Yang to the audience.

Prof. Steve Liu (Dean of DBM) Presented Souvenir to Prof. Guoliang YANG

Prof. Yang shared his recent research with the audience. In this research, he investigates the congestion in the case of R&D activities in Chinese universities, where congestion is known as a phenomenon whereby an increase in inputs leads to a decrease in maximum possible outputs, and tries to answer the question of how to improve efficiency by eliminating congestion in China’s R&D activities. The research redefines the concept of congestion and explores the way to eliminate congestion by increasing inputs. Congestion is divided into two categories, relative congestion and absolute congestion, according to whether it can be eliminated by increasing inputs. Corresponding congestion identification and measurement methods are developed on the data envelopment analysis framework. Based on the improved methods, Prof. Yang explores the possibility of eliminating congestion in the case of R&D activities in Chinese universities from an innovative perspective of increasing inputs.

Prof. Yang’s lecture

Using data from 64 universities administered by the Ministry of Education, Prof. Yang documents a downward trend of the congestion effects in the R&D activities from 2013 to 2017, with a rebound in 2015-16. The main reason leading to congestion effects has been the transfer from the low efficiency of full-time R&D personnel before 2015 to void R&D expenses between 2016 and 2017.

Prof. Yang and the audience on-site

Online audience

Prof. Yang found that most of the congestion in R&D activities of Chinese universities belongs to relative congestion, which indicates that the R&D activities in Chinese universities can be further invested to increase scientific achievements. Based on the findings, Prof. Yang provided policy suggestions for promoting the development of R&D activities in Chinese universities.

The audience had productive discussions and interactions with Prof. Yang and appreciated Prof. Yang for his inspiring lecture.