The Open University of China (OUC) hosted a symposium on digital education and lifelong learning in Shanghai on 31 January 2024.

Heads, experts, and scholars from open universities and international organisations in Norway, Ghana, Indonesia, Turkey, and the UK participated in the event. Wang Qiming, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, attended the symposium and delivered a speech. The event was chaired by Fan Xianrui, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of the OUC.

Wang Qiming shared insights on the OUC’s international collaborations in digital education, emphasising international consensus, national strategy, the OUC's initiatives, and future prospects. Distinguished participants, including Ojat Darojat, rector of Universitas Terbuka Indonesia and president of the Asian Association of Open Universities; Fuat Erdal, president of Anadolu University, Turkey; Torunn Gjelsvik, secretary general of the International Council for Open and Distance Education; Goski Alabi, president of the African Council for Distance Education and Laweh Open University College Ghana; and Fridolin Wild from the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University, UK, discussed their organisations' cooperation history with the OUC and offered valuable feedback for enhancing future multilateral and bilateral partnerships.

The 2024 World Digital Education Conference was held in Shanghai from 30th to 31st January. The OUC played a key role as one of the organisers, hosting the parallel session titled "Education Digitalisation and Learning Society Construction." This symposium on digital education and lifelong learning was a direct response to the outcomes of the 2024 World Digital Education Conference and its parallel sessions. It holds significant importance for the OUC in enhancing international exchanges and cooperation.

Liu Xuanxuan, deputy secretary of the OUC’s Party Committee, along with Jia Wei, deputy secretary and president of the Party Committee of Shanghai Open University, also attended the event.  

Written by Hou Songyan, Zhang Yi, Wang Xiangxu, photo by Zhuge Huanyu, OUC