The first special training session for “outstanding young teacher” candidates at the Open University of China (OUC) was held at Zhejiang University from 8 to 13 November, 2020. 101 candidates from the OUC system participated, and received certificates issued by Zhejiang University.

The session, sponsored by the OUC and hosted by the School of Continuing Education at Zhejiang University, was divided into lectures, on-site teaching, and a forum, and aimed to enhance ideological and political literacy, teaching abilities, and management and governance related to "Internet + Teaching".

During the session, Liu Xianghong, deputy secretary of the OUC Party Committee, was invited to discuss with Lou Xijin, dean of the School of Continuing Education at Zhejiang University, the effects of the session, along with future cooperation. Tian Suxia, deputy director of the OUC Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development, gave an opening speech at the start of the session, and Tong Xiaoming, secretary of the School of Continuing Education at Zhejiang University, delivered a speech.

at Hangzhou Normal University gave a report titled "Reconstructing Teaching Environments and Improving Teaching with Information Technology" in order to convey how to use new technology to improve classroom teaching. Professor Sheng Qunli from the School of Education at Zhejiang University introduced the theory and methods of designing university courses on the basis of IT in terms of knowledge, skills and quality. Professor Su Dekuang of the School of Mathematical Sciences, Zhejiang University, gave a report titled "My Teaching Experience in Six Words: Understanding, Penetration, Refinement, Interest, Emotion and Morality". Weng Kai, a senior lecturer in the School of Computer Science at Zhejiang University, introduced MOOC flipped-classroom methods and research. Professor Dai Yuqi of the School of Marxism at Zhejiang University spoke on the thinking of Xi Jinping related to education in a speech titled “Enhancing Learning and Working Hard to Build a Powerful Country through Education”. Professor Wu Xueping from the School of Education, Zhejiang University, gave an international perspective on the development of vocational education. Professor Huang Lixin from the School of Teacher Education at Zhejiang Normal University discussed the construction of online open courses in terms of resources, methods and platforms. Professor Qiu Limin of Qiushi College, Zhejiang University, spoke of the experiences of university teachers undertaking scientific research and team building from the perspective of team culture. Finally, Pan Jian, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Management, Zhejiang University, discussed ideological and political education, and the essence of higher education.

The trainees visited the Happy Learning Centre, the Smart Education and Media Integration Centre, the Ideological and Political Education Practice Centre, and the Studio of Famous Teachers of Ideology and Politics. Lu Fang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Zhejiang branch, and Zhang Jixian, director of the Student Affairs and Publicity departments, introduced the basic situation of the branch and the forms of ideological and political education available there in terms of the characteristics of open universities.

The trainees said the session helped them understand the situation and development of open education, and learn from the experiences of other colleges and universities. One teacher, Piao Minzhe, expressed his feelings about the event with a poem: "Open education cultivates excellence in young people. In an inter-university training session at Zhejiang University, we were able to attend lectures by famous teachers and take courses from internet celebrities and professors. While helping us become better teachers, the university also impressed us with its ideological and political education, its resources, and its never-ending innovation. I hope the university remains true to its original mission, serves its students well, and continues to grow.” Feng Li said, "The training was high-level and well-targeted, broadening our horizons, strengthened our ethics, and enhancing our teaching abilities. We benefited a lot from it." Finally, according to Ou Xinyu, he learned a great deal about the use of IT in education, and planned to integrate it into his work.

This session was rated “excellent” by the School of Continuing Education of Zhejiang University.

By Zhang Huirui, OUC