In order to strengthen the development of the teaching team for agriculture and science majors within the Open University of China (OUC) educational system, improve’ teaching capability and level, and increase cohesion among the teaching team, the OUC held a seminar for backbone teachers from agriculture and science majors (including the “one college student per village” programme) from 22nd to 27th April 2018 in Beijing. Sixty-two teachers from 24 OUC branches and their learning centres, as well as seven teachers from the OUC headquarters, attended the seminar and completed the studies.

The seminar lasted for one week and focused on the implementation of rural talent development and the state rural revitalisation strategy. OUC vice president Liu Chen made a speech at the opening ceremony and granted completion certificates to the attendees at the closing ceremony. Professor Yan Jichang from Tsinghua University, Zhang Zhupeng (a researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences), Professor Zhang Zhenghe and Professor Kong Xiangbin from China Agricultural University, Professor Wang Younian from Beijing University of Agriculture, Professor Shi Yajun, former OUC vice president Yan Bing, and Mr. Yin Zhiying, a teacher from the OUC Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine, all delivered reports. The reports covered issues including “advancing ‘supply-side’ reform in continuing education and offering targeted services for national development strategy”, “implementing ‘one college student per village’ programme and rural talent development”, “vigorously implementing rural revitalisation strategy, positively fostering momentum for the development of agriculture and village”, and “issues regarding open universities serving the development of ‘farmers, villages and agriculture’.” The seminar included lectures, topic discussions, case studies, and experiences, emphasising participation, interaction, and the effects of enlightening learners.

Teachers participating in the training said that the one-week seminar not only exposed them to cutting-edge knowledge about continuing education and the implementation of rural revitalisation strategy and rural talent development; it also deepened friendships among teachers from the agriculture and science majors within the OUC educational system, enhancing cohesion. It is hoped that in the future the training styles can be further diversified, more exchange and discussion time can be added, and more training opportunities can be provided for teachers at the grassroot levels.

By Fu Jinfeng, OUC