On 21 March 2024, Wang Qiming, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the Open University of China (OUC), also known as the Seniors University of China (SUC), led a delegation to the Shandong Open University (OU) to explore the progress of education for the elderly.
The delegation included key figures such as Liu Xuanxuan, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the OUC (SUC); Sun Luyi, a member of the Education Work Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a member of the Leading Party Group, and deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Education Department; Xu Wenmou, secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong OU; and Si Jiajun, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Shandong OU. Together, they inaugurated the SUC Shandong Branch, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of elderly education in Shandong.
Wang Qiming and his delegation watched a video showcasing Shandong Seniors Open University (SSOU), listened to a report on the development of the Shandong Provincial Lifelong Learning Centre project, observed the live teaching activities in the Experimental Classes at SSOU, and engaged in discussions and exchanges.
Wang Qiming fully recognised the significant contributions of Shandong OU in the realm of elderly education. He noted that his visit to Shandong was highly productive, and he is optimistic about the future of education for the elderly. He advocated for the development of elderly education initiatives from a high starting point and with high standards, to foster a broader national perspective. It is crucial, he argued, to establish a synergistic collaboration mechanism among relevant departments, ensuring a unified approach and harmonious progress. Wang emphasised the importance of continuously addressing the diverse educational needs of the elderly, enabling them to cultivate virtue, engage in lifelong learning, proactively maintain their health, enjoy life, and achieve fulfilling outcomes. He stressed the need to diligently work towards creating optimal conditions for the elderly to learn, enjoy, and contribute, thereby playing an indispensable role in building a learning society.
Si Jiajun introduced the performance of Shandong OU in delivering education for the elderly from four perspectives: the current state of elderly education in Shandong Province, the accomplishments of Shandong OU, the challenges and issues faced, and the future strategies and plans for elderly education. He expressed gratitude to the OUC (SUC), the Education Work Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial Education Department for their guidance and support towards their university. He stated that Shandong OU will concentrate on enhancing the construction of the educational and service system of SSOU, innovating and advancing elderly open education in creative ways, expanding the availability of education resources for the elderly, improving the meaningful development of elderly education, and fostering the high-quality development of elderly education.
Wang Qiming and his delegation also visited Shandong Seniors University (SSU) to conduct investigative and research activities. They were accompanied by Lyu Deyi, deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee’s Retired Cadres Bureau and president of SSU. The visit took them to SSU’s Ma'anshan campus, where the delegation toured the Chinese Elderly Education History Museum, multimedia classrooms, recording studios, live teaching areas, and the smart campus control centre. This comprehensive tour provided Wang Qiming and his team with a deep dive into SSU's enrollment processes, programme offerings, course resource development, information technology infrastructure, teaching facilities, and operational strategies. The visit facilitated meaningful discussions and exchanges. Key leaders, departments, and responsible personnel from Shandong OU were also present during the investigation.
By Seniors College