A work conference on Open University of China (OUC) “1 + 7” Educational Aid and Support and the opening ceremony for the inauguration of Qinghai Open University (Qinghai OU) were held on 28 April 2021.
Wang Xuan, vice chairman of Qinghai Provincial Political Consultative Conference, and Jing Degang, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, unveiled the university. The OUC, together with seven open universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Wuxi, signed a “1 + 7” Educational Aid and Support Agreement with Qinghai Open University and Liuzhou and Haidong Radio and TV Universities (RTVUs). Wang Shuyou, deputy secretary general of Qinghai Provincial Government, attended the conference, which was presided over by Mei Yan, deputy director of Qinghai Provincial Department of Education.
Based on the unified deployment of the Ministry of Education, on 22 December 2020, Qinghai Provincial Government approved the renaming of Qinghai RTVU as Qinghai OU, marking a new stage in the development of the university and the construction of a new type of university serving lifelong learning for all. Wang Shuyou read out the reply from the Qinghai Provincial People’s Government and delivered a speech. He pointed out that the renaming of Qinghai RTVU as Qinghai OU is a great event in the process of higher education reform and development in Qinghai Province. Qinghai OU should take the opportunity presented by its name change to implement the educational aid and support agreement, stimulate vitality in education, strengthen its internal construction, and open a new chapter for the high-level and high-quality development of Qinghai OU. First, he noted that it is necessary to adhere to the correct direction for school running and cultivate a range of high-level, self-reliant talents who can adapt to high-quality development. Second, reform and innovation should be further deepened. The operation of Qinghai OU should take into consideration the overall situation of Qinghai province and actively adapt to the trend of “Internet Plus education.” It should innovate its operational methods and mechanism and form a school running model characterised by extensive participation from all members of society, the sharing and construction of resources, and close collaboration and communication. Third, it is necessary to enhance the university’s capacity to serve society, satisfy the needs of learners, optimise professional courses, promote the deep integration of information technology, education, and teaching, and constantly meet the diverse educational needs of different groups.
In his speech, Jing Degang pointed out that the renaming and transformation of Qinghai OU is a great Qinghai-specific achievement of the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan. Over the past 42 years, the university has trained more than 130,000 applied talents with junior college and university degrees and carried out all kinds of training for more than 350,000 people, which has helped to solve the problem of educational compensation for two generations, explored a road for developing continuing education and adult education in western China, and made positive contributions to the economic and social development of Qinghai. He stressed that Qinghai OU should focus on “What kind of open university should be built,” while creating excellence and improving the quality of degree education. It should expand new markets for social training, strengthen education for older adults, and promote the development of the university from seeking quantity to strengthening quality, from a focus on qualifications to one on knowledge, from providing degrees to enhancing skills, and from prioritising online teaching to the integrated development of online and offline teaching. All relevant parties should spare no efforts to develop the university into a major platform for lifelong and online education in China and a platform for flexible education and external cooperation. The university should actively develop a new model of lifelong learning and make new achievements at this new historical starting point in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Lou Junjiang, secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai OU, and Li Jiyan, vice president of Beijing OU, on behalf of the supporting institutions, gave speeches on the achievements made in supporting Qinghai OU and how to implement the Educational Aid and Support Agreement in the 14th Five-Year Plan.
Shang Ma, vice secretary of the Party Committee and President of Qinghai OU, delivered a speech on behalf of the universities accepting the aid. He said that Qinghai OU will solidly promote the implementation of the “1 + 7” Educational Aid and Support Agreement and accelerate high-quality transformation and development. The university will rely on the discipline and professional advantages of the eight open universities, with the goal of continuously strengthening its internal construction, improving its comprehensive school running strength and level, and running a higher quality open university. It will cultivate qualified talents with innovative spirits and practical abilities to meet the needs of local economic and social development and provide support for the construction of a lifelong learning education system for all. It will also contribute wisdom and strength to the construction of a more prosperous, civilised, harmonious, and beautiful new Qinghai.
Leaders from the Organisation Department, Publicity Department, Veteran Cadres Bureau of Qinghai Provincial Party Committee, the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee of Qinghai Provincial People's Congress and Qinghai Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, the Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Human Resources, colleges and universities in Qinghai province, local education administrative departments, and RTVUs at the prefecture and county levels attended the meeting. The meeting was live streamed on the Internet with teachers and students of the RTVU system across the province watching this historic moment together.
By Qinghai OU