In the fourth session of the third conference of the Beijing Academic Degrees Commission held recently, the Open University of China (OUC) and the Beijing Police College were unanimously approved as institutions authorized to grant bachelor degrees, with their related programmes being the bachelor degree granting sites. The unopposed vote also sanctioned bachelor degree granting authority for 42 programmes in five independent schools.

Xian Lianping, Vice Director of the forth session of the Beijing Academic Degrees Commission noted that the review of the authority of granting academic degrees, particularly that of the OUC, enriched the types of bachelor degree granting institutions in the Beijing Area, which will better satisfy the urgent need for applied professionals in the social and economic development in Beijing. 

Xian Lianping also remarked that in future years, the Beijing Academic Degrees Commission will give full play to its coordinating functions to accelerate adjusting the distribution structure of degree granting sites, so as to serve the strategy of collaborative development in the“Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei” region through building the association of universities and colleges in that region, strengthening cooperation, linking requirements, expressing advantages and harmonising direction, in order to achieve a win-win effect.

Xian Lianping stressed that governing departments should strengthen coordination and cooperation with the institutions to guide and encourage the universities to integrate with the needs of industries and enterprises to further explore and implement the dual tutorial system, i.e. the university and the research institutes, the university and the enterprises, and vigorously promote the pilot reform of training oriented at improving professional skills, as well as improving the innovative and practical abilities for applied professionals.

Xian Lianping said that support should be given to the cooperation between central universities and municipal universities with the purpose of enhancing the graduate education level in the municipal universities. He added that the graduate education in central universities is well developed on a large scale and provides much experience for the municipal universities. If similar structure is avoided, strengths are stressed, weaknesses avoided, and support special features, through the cooperation between the two parties, subject advantage would be gained in the municipal universities by using the programme benefits from the central universities so as to promote specific developments in municipal universities. 

                                                                               By He Yingchun, Wang Sihui, people.cn

              Original Title: OUC, the Police College Authorized As Bachelor Degree Granting Institutes