Year-over-Year (YoY) Growth Analysis: Tracking Institutional Research Expenditures Over Time
The YoY Growth Analysis page in the NSF HERD Dashboard provides a comprehensive view of how research spending has evolved over time for various institutions, with detailed breakdowns of year-over-year expenditure changes. This tool is essential for understanding how UTRGV’s research investment compares to peer institutions and for tracking its progress in research funding over time.
Key Variables
- YoY Change:
- YoY (Year-over-Year) Change is calculated by comparing the current year’s research expenditure to the previous year’s, expressed as a percentage. For example, if an institution’s expenditure grows from $85M in 2021 to $95M in 2022, the YoY change rate would be 9.11%.
- This metric helps users quickly identify whether research funding at an institution is growing or declining over time, offering insight into trends in research investment.
- Rank:
- Each institution is assigned a rank based on its research expenditure, according to NSF HERD data.
- Users can also explore Neighbors by Rank, which shows institutions within a rank range of -10 to +10 from UTRGV’s rank. This feature is valuable for comparing UTRGV’s expenditure trends to similar institutions, helping stakeholders understand UTRGV’s competitive standing.
Visualizations
- Bar Chart with Line Graph:
- The main graph on this page combines bar and line charts to show both the dollar amount of total expenditure (bar) and the YoY change rate (line) for each year.
- Each bar represents the total expenditure for a particular year, allowing users to see the overall growth trend in dollar terms. The line graph above the bars tracks the YoY percentage change, showing whether spending increased or decreased relative to the previous year.
- This dual-view setup enables users to see not only the total amount of research funding but also how fast it’s growing or contracting annually. For example, UTRGV’s research expenditure increased by 10.68% from 2021 to 2022, reflecting significant growth in research funding.
- Ranking Table and YoY Change Matrix:
- This table displays a list of institutions along with their rank, expenditure for the current year, and YoY change rate. The matrix view provides a breakdown of how each institution’s rank and expenditure changed over time.
- Users can see each institution’s ranking and YoY changes in detail, making it easy to compare performance between institutions. Additionally, the table highlights each institution’s expenditure across different funding sources and research fields, allowing for a granular analysis of where funds are allocated.
How to Use the YoY Growth Analysis for Strategic Insights
The YoY Growth Analysis page offers powerful insights for UTRGV’s strategic planning in research. By exploring this data, UTRGV can:
- Track Growth Over Time: The bar and line chart allow UTRGV to monitor its own spending growth year-over-year, making it easy to see the rate of research investment increase.
- Benchmark Against Peers: With the Neighbors by Rank feature, UTRGV can quickly compare its YoY growth and funding levels with institutions of similar rank, gaining insights into competitive positioning.
- Identify Funding Trends: The detailed table enables a closer look at UTRGV’s funding sources and research fields, helping to assess if UTRGV’s funding portfolio aligns with growth areas or if adjustments might be needed to support priority fields.
Purpose of the YoY Growth Analysis for UTRGV’s Research Goals
This page is an essential resource for UTRGV to evaluate its research expenditure growth and its standing among peer institutions. By analyzing YoY changes, UTRGV can make informed decisions on where to prioritize resources, identify successful growth areas, and track progress toward research excellence.
The YoY Growth Analysis is more than just a snapshot; it’s a strategic tool that provides actionable insights into UTRGV’s research funding trajectory. As UTRGV works to enhance its research profile and move up in the rankings, understanding these growth metrics is critical for setting realistic goals and measuring progress.