How the World-Class University Project Affects Scientific Productivity? Evidence from a Survey of Faculty Members in China

Using a survey of faculty members from 30 public universities in China, this study examines the influence of the world-class university (WCU) project on faculty member's scientific productivity under the perspectives of globalization and national demands. In general, the results support the globalization dimension of the WCU project in China. The WCU project exhibits a positive effect on international publications, but has no significant impact on domestic publications and technology transfer. In addition, it is found that a high level of WCU funding is associated with more patents, while a low level of WCU funding has no influence on patents. The study also explores the indirect effects of the WCU project. It is found that the WCU project has enhanced the effect of non-government research funding on academic publications. Moreover, the WCU institutions put emphasis on attracting talents from abroad, but there is no evidence that researchers from abroad are more productive than domestic researchers in science and engineering fields.