For rural revitalisation to succeed, the invigoration of talent is essential. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised, "We will encourage various types of talent to fully demonstrate their abilities, showcase their talents, and make significant contributions in the vast rural areas, building a strong talent team for rural revitalisation".
To broaden thinking, inspire wisdom, gather insights, and jointly develop effective strategies for cultivating local talent and supporting the all-round rural revitalisation, in 2024, the Open University of China (OUC) held the Expert Lecture Series as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the "One College Student Per Village" Programme initiated by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Authoritative experts in agriculture, rural areas and farmers were invited to discuss and share their insights.
At the beginning of 2024, the Expert Lecture Series was officially launched, with one session held each month. Twelve renowned experts and scholars were invited from prestigious higher education institutions such as China Agricultural University, Zhejiang University, and Renmin University of China, as well as from organisations like MOE’s Department of Vocational and Adult Education, the Research Centre for Rural Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and the Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, MARA. These experts focused on in-depth discussions of topics such as the Central Rural Work Conference, the Green Rural Revival Programme in Zhejiang, agricultural new quality productivity, modern agriculture, food security, vocational education, agricultural e-commerce, urban-rural integration, building a beautiful and harmonious countryside, smart agriculture, and rural governance. The experts were knowledgeable and insightful, with deep theoretical exploration and rich practical case studies, earning widespread praise from teachers and students alike.
The Expert Lecture Series was open to the faculty and students of OUC system, with a cumulative live viewership of 35,000. Participants said that the lectures were highly relevant in topic, rich in content, and vivid in delivery. The Series greatly expanded their professional horizons and broadened their development perspectives. Moving forward, attendees plan to apply what they have learned, felt, and thought to their daily work. With a stronger sense of responsibility and greater enthusiasm, they are committed to contributing to the all-round rural revitalisation. They will play a more significant role in advancing agricultural modernisation and build up China's strength in agriculture.
The Expert Lecture Series, part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of MOE's "One College Student Per Village" Programme, was hosted by OUC, organised by the School of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College), and supported technically by OUC Education & Information Technology Co., Ltd.
By Wang Zheng, OUC