Yang was Director of the Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1987 to 2001, was Chairman of the Shanghai Science and Technology Association (1992–1996), and he was the first president of the Association of University Presidents of China (1997–1999).[citation needed]
Yang was installed as the University of Nottingham's sixth Chancellor on 4 July 2001, the first time that a Chinese academic has become Chancellor of a UK university. He stepped down on 1 January 2013 and was succeeded by Sir Andrew Witty.[citation needed]
In 2004, Yang was one of the 3 prime movers behind the creation of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China – along with Sir Colin Campbell and Madame Xu Yafen. He continued to hold the office of President at UNNC, presiding at Graduation Ceremonies and engaging closely with students who have followed Yang's original dream of moderating and reforming China's higher education circumstance.[citation needed]
Other roles which Professor Yang has held include:
Council Member representing China on the Association of East Asia Research Universities
Hongliang, Ma; Miaohua, Chen; Zhijun, Chen; Wei, Shi; Fuquan, Lu; Jiayong, Tang; Fujia, Yang (1 January 1999). "Hyperfine structure in the 576 nm line of Pr II by collinear fast-ion-beam laser spectroscopy". Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 32 (5). IOP Publishing: 1345–1349. Bibcode:1999JPhB...32.1345H. doi:10.1088/0953-4075/32/5/023. ISSN0953-4075. S2CID250908514.
Chongyang, Chen; Shixiang, Yan; Zhouxuan, Teng; Yansen, Wang; Fujia, Yang; Yongsheng, Sun (28 December 1998). "Erratum: Electron-impact ionization cross sections and rates for ions of neon". Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 31 (24). IOP Publishing: 5403–5405. Bibcode:1998JPhB...31.5403C. doi:10.1088/0953-4075/31/24/023. ISSN0953-4075.
Chongyang, Chen; Shixiang, Yan; Zhouxuan, Teng; Yansen, Wang; Fujia, Yang; Yongsheng, Sun (28 June 1998). "Electron-impact ionization cross sections and rates for ions of neon". Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 31 (12). IOP Publishing: 2667–2679. Bibcode:1998JPhB...31.2667C. doi:10.1088/0953-4075/31/12/005. ISSN0953-4075. S2CID250895924.
Hongliang, Ma; Wei, Shi; Bin, Yan; Yong, Li; Dufei, Fang; Fuquan, Lu; Jiayong, Tang; Fujia, Yang (14 August 1997). "Optical isotope shifts of Nd II by collinear fast-ion-beam laser spectroscopy". Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 30 (15). IOP Publishing: 3355–3360. Bibcode:1997JPhB...30.3355H. doi:10.1088/0953-4075/30/15/008. ISSN0953-4075. S2CID250873024.