In recent years, it has independently presided over projects of the 973 Plan, the 863 Plan, and eight major bidding projects of the National Social Science Foundation and MOE humanities and social science milestone projects.

These projects have had practical effect. The university's report on the China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipeline helped the project start. Its achievements in Research on Cross-border Ecological Safety and International Rivers provided decision-making reference for solving issues related to water resources and the ecological health of rivers that flow across borders. Its research achievements in several projects, such as Dealing with Arsenic Pollution in Yangzonghai Lake, Ecological Rehabilitation and Dealing with Polluted Rivers and Investigation of Non-Point Source Pollution in Dianchi Lake and Controlling Measures have made key contributions to dealing with pollution in plateau lakes.

In addition to generating important practical effects, the projects have garnered many awards for the university. It has been awarded several national prizes, such as a first prize for National Natural Science Award, another first prize recognizing a National Higher Institutional Humanities and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement and a second prize for National Science and Technology Progress, among others.