On 27 November 2024, the Open University of China (OUC) commenced the inaugural report and discussion event for the "Craftsmanship and Model Worker Lecture Series." The event was graced by the presence of Li Song, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of OUC.
Professor Pan Kewu from the School of Film and Cinematic Arts at Communication University of China; Li Zhiyong, deputy director of the R&D and Maintenance Division at the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the CPC; and Luo Yi from the Ministry of Education’s Centre for Public Information and Promotion of Education participated in the discussion. Li Wei, director of the Learning Resources Department, and Cheng Qian, deputy director, along with relevant staff members, were present at the event, which was chaired by Cheng Qian.
Li Song emphasised that the "Craftsmanship and Model Worker Lecture Series" is designed to promote the spirit of craftsmanship and model workers, leveraging their influential roles in ideological and political education to innovate teaching methods. He stressed three key principles for the project's implementation: first, to develop high-quality ideological and political education courses that delve into the essence of the national craftsmanship spirit and maximise their educational impact; second, to expand promotional channels across various platforms to raise public awareness; and third, to construct exemplary and benchmark non-degree education course resources with high standards and strict requirements to ensure the project's effectiveness.
Li Wei introduced the project’s background, preparatory work, selection criteria for lecturers, and teaching application scenarios. The main creative team from the course production unit reported on the lecturers’ characteristics, course structure, and design highlights.
The attending experts fully recognised the project's value and the effectiveness of the course presentations. They unanimously agreed that the project has a far-reaching vision, covering key national promotion areas such as vocational education, rural revitalisation, and intangible cultural heritage preservation. The course design integrates ideology, artistry, and knowledge, achieving the expected teaching outcomes. Additionally, experts offered optimisation suggestions from perspectives including overall visual design and expression, creative planning, communication strategies, and production details. They also provided insightful advice on the project's promotional video design and the selection of lecturers for the second batch of courses.
The "Craftsman and Model Worker Lecture Series" is a high-standard course brand project comparable to the "Academician Lecture Series", jointly planned by the OUC and the Publicity and Education Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). Launched at the end of 2023, the first batch of courses is presented in the form of feature films, inviting six national craftsmen, three national model workers, and two intangible cultural heritage inheritors as lecturers. By the end of 2024, the series will be promoted within the ACFTU system, the OUC educational system, and across social media.
Written by Yang Wei and Zhou Xiang, Photo by Zhou Xiang, OUC