On 14 July 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Education released a list of the 2021 award-winning research reports of its affiliated institutions.

Eight reports shared first prize, 16 second, and 26 third, with 6 units recognised for organisation. A report titled Construction of the National Credit Bank, submitted by the Credit Bank (Learning Outcomes Accreditation Centre) of the Open University of China (OUC), received a second prize, with the OUC Party Committee among the listed organisations.

Construction of the National Credit Bank summarises the OUC’s research on and practices in implementing the national credit bank. It covers credit banks at various levels in China via textual analysis, questionnaires, case studies, interviews with experts, and so on, to analyse in-depth the constraints on the development of the national bank. The report concludes that this bank should function as the basis of vocational education following the principle of “government coordination, collaborations among multiple entities, adherence to standards, and service for all”.

The awards present an opportunity for the OUC to set new goals, and it will attach even greater importance to research and practice, supporting the decision-making of the educational authorities.

By Wang Lina, OUC