Dr. Vladimir Ristanović | Performance Management | Research Excellence Award

Published on 30/11/2025 by Leadership and Management

Dr. Vladimir Ristanović | Performance Management | Research Excellence Award

Institute of European Studies | Serbia

Dr. Vladimir Ristanović is a senior research associate and economist whose work spans European studies, international economics, finance, and sustainable development. He holds a Doctor of Economic Sciences degree, along with MSc and BSc degrees in economics from leading universities in Serbia. His professional background includes extensive experience in academic teaching, research, and policy analysis, with previous roles as associate professor, vice dean for science, and head of academic departments. He also contributed to strategic policy development for the Government of Serbia, participating in EU and WTO negotiation working groups and gaining certified knowledge of the EU acquis. His research covers applied macroeconomics, green economy, circular economy, econometric modeling, and the economic dimensions of sustainability. He has authored textbooks, monographs, and numerous scientific articles published in reputable international journals. He has served on editorial and review boards of multiple journals and participated in Erasmus+ visiting programs and international conferences. His mentoring work includes guiding students across all levels of study and contributing to accreditation processes for higher education institutions. Recognized for his contributions to economic analysis and public policy, his career reflects a commitment to advancing evidence-based research, sustainable economic development, and academic excellence.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Ristanović, V., Joksimović, M., & Šostar, M. (2025). Greening policy in the Western Balkans: Financial pathways. Međunarodna politika. https://doi.org/10.18485/iipe_mp.2025.76.1194.7

Ristanović, V., & Tošović-Stevanović, A. (2025). The economic impact of the agricultural input supply chain on small-scale farming in Serbia. Trendovi u poslovanju. https://doi.org/10.5937/trendpos2501024R

Ristanović, V., Primorac, D., & Huđek Kanižaj, I. (2025). Economic growth, green competitiveness and institutional quality in post-2004 EU states: Panel ARDL-PMG analysis. Economies, 13(12), Article 337. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13120337

Ristanović, V., Andrlić, B., & Ekiz, E. (2025). A multi-criteria assessment of green tourism potential in rural regions: The role of green skills and institutional readiness. Economies, 13(11), Article 332. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13110332

Prof. Decai Tang | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Research Excellence Award

Published on 26/11/202526/11/2025 by Leadership and Management

Prof. Decai Tang | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Research Excellence Award

Hengxing University | China

Professor Tang Decai is an accomplished scholar in management science and engineering, with a strong academic foundation built through degrees in English education, economics, and a PhD in management science and engineering. Over three decades, he has held key academic and administrative roles across major Chinese universities, contributing extensively to teaching, discipline development, and international education. His teaching portfolio spans management, economics, finance, public administration, and Marxist theory, including courses for undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students. As a prolific researcher, he has published more than 200 papers in high-impact SSCI/SCI and CSSCI journals, including Journal of Cleaner Production, Sustainable Cities and Society, Ecological Indicators, Frontiers in Environmental Science, and Environmental Science and Pollution Research. His research interests cover industrial policy, sustainable development, low-carbon manufacturing, urbanization, service industry development, environmental management, productivity theory, and the knowledge economy. He has led 36 research projects—including provincial talent projects and government-funded studies—and contributed to multiple significant consulting reports that received provincial awards. His scholarly achievements include authoring and co-authoring influential monographs and textbooks and receiving numerous provincial awards for research excellence, teaching, and Party affairs work. Professor Tang’s career reflects a sustained commitment to academic leadership, multidisciplinary scholarship, and impactful contributions to management research and public policy.

Profiles: ORCID

Featured Publications

Zhao, Z., Tang, D., & Li, J. (2025). Driving role of digital finance on economic resilience: Threshold effects of industrial structure upgrading and social security. Economic Change and Restructuring.

Tang, D., Boamah, V., & Ben Amara, D. (2025). Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve in West Africa: A spatial econometric analysis of growth, globalization, and emissions. Journal of Environmental Management.

Tang, D., Boamah, V., Ding, Q., & Bai, J. (2025). Spatial dependencies and long-run dynamics of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in West Africa: An analysis of growth vs. emissions. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Xiang, J., Tang, D., Zhou, Y., & Chen, Q. (2025). Green finance, environmental regulation, and the optimization of industrial structure in China’s Yangtze River economic belt. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Cheng, X., Bian, J., He, D., & Tang, D. (2025). An analysis of agricultural production efficiency of Yellow River Basin based on a three-stage DEA Malmquist model. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Liu, Y., Gherghina, S. C., Liu, H., Tang, D., Yin, C., & Kong, L. (2025). Ownership succession, risk taking and debt financing from the perspective of the institutional environment. PLOS One.

Zhang, X., Tang, D., & Cheng, X. (2025). The inverted U-shaped relationship between judicial development and economic growth: Evidence from China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Pan, Y., Atsi, E. R., Tang, D., He, D., & Donkor, M. (2025). The synergistic effect of foreign direct investment and renewable energy consumption on environmental pollution mitigation: Evidence from developing countries. Sustainability.

Dai, L., Tang, D., Atsi, E. R., Zhao, M., Zhang, H., Kong, Y., & Zhang, L. (2025). The integration of green finance and logistics: Implications for green industry transformation. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Tang, D., Obuobi, B., Nketiah, E., & Adu-Gyamfi, G. (2025). Breaking the energy crisis: Does the role of government support impact Ghanaians’ intention to adopt sustainable energy from food waste? Energy.

Prof. Dr. Kofi Obeng | Employee Work Effort | Best Researcher Award

Published on 31/10/202531/10/2025 by Leadership and Management

Prof. Dr. Kofi Obeng | Employee Work Effort | Best Researcher Award

North Carolina A&T State University | United States

Dr. K. Obeng, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus of Transportation in the Department of Marketing, Transportation, and Supply Chain at the William B. Deese College of Business and Economics, North Carolina A&T State University, USA. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, with a specialization in Transportation Planning and a minor in Urban and Regional Economics. He also holds a Master of Urban Planning from McGill University, Canada, and a B.Sc. in Planning from the University of Science and Technology, Ghana. With over four decades of academic and professional experience, Dr. Obeng has served as a distinguished educator, researcher, and consultant in transportation planning, logistics, and infrastructure development. His research focuses on transportation policy, public transit efficiency, pricing, and sustainable mobility systems. He has consulted for state departments and municipal agencies, contributing to major transportation frameworks such as the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation. As President of Transportation and Logistics Expert Inc., he continues to apply academic insight to real-world challenges. Throughout his career, Dr. Obeng has received numerous recognitions for his contributions to transportation education and regional development, reflecting his lifelong commitment to innovation and sustainable urban mobility.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ugboro, I. O., & Obeng, K. (2000). Top management leadership, employee empowerment, job satisfaction, and customer satisfaction in TQM organizations: An empirical study. Journal of Quality Management, 5(2), 247–272.*

Obeng, K., & Ugboro, I. (2003). Organizational commitment among public transit employees: An assessment study. Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, 42(2), 83–98.*

Ugboro, I. O., Obeng, K., & Spann, O. (2011). Strategic planning as an effective tool of strategic management in public sector organizations: Evidence from public transit organizations. Administration & Society, 43(1), 87–123.*

Obeng, K. (2011). Gender differences in injury severity risks in crashes at signalized intersections. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 43(4), 1521–1531.*

Obeng, K. (1985). Bus transit cost, productivity and factor substitution. Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, 183–203.*

Dr. shanshan ku | Development Planning & Management | Best Researcher Award

Published on 31/10/202531/10/2025 by Leadership and Management

Dr. shanshan ku | Development Planning & Management | Best Researcher Award

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | Malaysia

Kushanshan is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Social Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), specializing in sustainable urban tourism and regional development. With a strong academic foundation and hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research, Kushanshan has participated in and coordinated multiple projects exploring the socio-economic dynamics of urban tourism, heritage city sustainability, and community participation in tourism planning. His scholarly work has been featured in several Web of Science-indexed journals, reflecting his commitment to advancing research excellence. In collaboration with institutions such as the Nanyang Agricultural and Forestry Planning Bureau and the Nanyang Agricultural Vocational College, he bridges academic theory and practical implementation to promote responsible tourism strategies. His research integrates sociological perspectives with tourism studies to propose models that balance economic growth, cultural preservation, and community well-being. With a growing citation record and several patents under process, he continues to contribute significantly to the discourse on social sustainability in tourism. Passionate about impactful scholarship, he aims to enhance the understanding of tourism’s role in shaping resilient and inclusive urban communities, reinforcing the global pursuit of sustainable development.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Ku, S., & Samsurijan, M. S. (2025, October 27). Advancing sustainable development through urban tourism: A reflective analysis of SDG 8.9 and 17 in Nanyang City, China. Sustainability, 17(21), Article 9533. h

Ku, S. (2024, July). Abstracts. International Journal of Mental Health ursing.

Zhao, Y., Gao, W., & Ku, S. (2023, November 20). Optimization of the game improvement and data analysis model for the early childhood education major via deep learning. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 46060.

Ku, S. (2022, June 18). Study on the impact of rural tourism on the anxiety of the rural poor based on the urbanization model of consumer psychology. Psychiatria Danubina.