On 1 November 2023, a signing ceremony for the “Online Training Programme for Family Service Workers” took place at the Open University of China (OUC) Wukesong Campus.

This collaborative event marked an agreement between the Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the OUC's Education and Training Centre. Distinguished attendees included Liu Xuanxuan, deputy secretary of the OUC Party Committee and secretary of its Discipline Inspection Committee, along with Zhu Guangyao, Level 2 Counsel (equivalent to deputy departmental level) of the MOC’s Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services.

 

Zhu Guangyao of the MOC’s Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services and Wang Qifu of the OUC’s Education and Training Centre signing agreement on behalf of the two sides

In response to the "2023 Key Points to Promote the Quality Enhancement and Expansion of the Family Service Industry" document jointly issued by the MOC and the National Development and Reform Commission, three core development requirements have been outlined: improving professional literacy for family service workers, implementing an upskilling initiative, and providing online training by leveraging both online and offline resources. Aligning with these goals, the MOC's Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services is collaborating with the OUC’s Education and Training Centre. Together, they have selected 19 training programmes covering essential skills for eight family service professions, such as maternal-child nursing. These programmes, which are independently developed with full intellectual property rights, will be available on the MOC's online learning platform integrated within the family service industry's information management system. This initiative aims to offer free online learning services to over 30 million family service workers across the nation, thereby elevating their professional literacy and skillset.

The two parties stated that the signing of the agreement marks the beginning of their cooperation. They intend to enhance interaction and cooperation, utilizing their respective strengths to collectively raise the professional literacy, occupational skills, and academic qualifications of family service practitioners nationwide. The aim is to effectively drive the quality enhancement and growth of the family service industry.

 

The delegation headed by Zhu Guangyao visiting the OUC’s “Internet + University” exhibition centre and the exhibition hall of the Seniors University of China

The delegation led by Zhu Guangyao also visited the OUC’s “Internet + University” exhibition centre and the exhibition hall of the Seniors University of China. Zhu Guangyao expressed that he was deeply impressed by the OUC’s operational achievements and its contributions to social and economic development. He hopes that the OUC will fully leverage its role in training skilled professionals for the service industry. The skill training programme for family service workers is envisioned as a starting point for further extensive cooperation between the two parties.

 

By OUC