A delegation headed by Li Song, vice president and Party Committee member of the Open University of China (OUC), has recently conducted a field study at the School for the Disabled.

The visit is part of an initiative to fully implement key instructions given by General Secretary Xi Jinping on supporting people with disabilities and promote the advancement of high-quality education for this sector.

Li Song highlighted the strategic importance set by the Party and state for the OUC in providing exemplary education for the disabled as part of addressing significant contemporary societal issues of  "a leading country in education, the OUC’s role" and "the relationship between open education and a learning society". Since its foundation, the School for the Disabled has broadened access to higher education and vocational training for people with disabilities, marked by notable achievements and some inherent challenges. Shenzhen Open University, as the operating body of the School for the Disabled, must prioritise its development and oversee all relevant activities effectively.

Moreover, Li urged the School for the Disabled to reflect on its two decades of operational experiences and cultivate a collection of exemplary outcomes and case studies suitable for broader application. This effort aims to improve educational standards and increase societal impact. With fresh challenges posed by the new era, it is essential for the school to assess the educational demands of the disabled meticulously, both in degree and non-degree education spheres. By focusing on these needs, the school should evolve its disciplinary and professional offerings, alongside vocational training, and maintain current with barrier-free educational resources and environments. Furthermore, having a clear vision aligned with the national education strategy for the disabled, the school must elevate its institutional position, optimally utilise its dual-system advantages and expand its reach, thus contributing significantly to the holistic development of disability services.

Also participating in this investigation were Gu Xiaohua and Shen Juan, director and deputy director respectively of the Academic Affairs Department at OUC.

Written by Academic Affairs Department, OUC

Photos by Shenzhen Open University