The role of university leaders’ overseas experience in facilitating technology transfer

This study examines the actual impact of Communist Party secretaries’ prior overseas experience on the technology transfer scale (TTS) in universities. The results reveal that, after a secretary with prior overseas experience takes office, the university’s TTS significantly increases. This positive impact is relatively more pronounced in the short term, which is mainly manifested in non-key universities and universities located in underdeveloped regions. Compared to visiting scholars, secretaries, once they have studied abroad, have a more significant impact on the university’s TTS. The secretary’s overseas experience does not have any significant impact on the fundraising and input of research funds. However, that experience significantly enhances the enthusiasm of research personnel and R&D technical efficiency, thereby causing a positive impact on the university’s TTS. The research conclusions of this study significantly enrich the existing literature regarding the influencing factors of TTS, introducing a novel perspective on university leaders’ overseas experiences.