1. OUC lays out plans for integrated collaborative advancement of high-quality innovative development in open education within its educational system.
Symposium on "Integrated Collaborative Advancement of High-Quality Innovative Development in Open Education"
On 21 June 2024, the Open University of China (OUC) hosted a symposium titled "Integrated Collaborative Advancement of High-Quality Innovative Development in Open Education." At the symposium, it emphasised that the open university system should proceed from building a leading country in education, seize the historical opportunity, accelerate the construction of a world-class open university with Chinese characteristics, and highlight new achievements in the construction of a learning society. The Secretary and President Conference of Open Universities in China has proposed the "1234" strategy and the conference focused on strategies for digital empowerment of lifelong learning for the construction of a learning-oriented society and nation.
2. OUC achieves new breakthroughs in enhancing the international influence in the field of open education.
On 21 August 2024, the ASEAN-China Digital Education Alliance (referred to as the Alliance) held its annual conference for the year in Guizhou.
OUC actively serves the strategy of opening up of education to the outside world, achieving new breakthroughs in enhancing the international influence and strengthening the voice of open education. The University has established 32 Open Learning Centres in 27 countries worldwide. It has also successfully hosted parallel sessions of the World Digital Education Conference and the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference with high quality, as well as the annual conference of the ASEAN-China Digital Education Alliance.
3. Smart Education of China ∙ Lifelong Education Platform has been officially launched.
CCTV’s "News Broadcast" reported on the official launch of the Smart Education of China ∙ Lifelong Education Platform.
On 27 December, the Ministry of Education (MOE)convened the 2024 National Education Digitalisation Work Summary Meeting. Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education, announced the official launch of the Smart Education of China ∙ Lifelong Education Platform. It has launched an initial batch of 1,000 courses, categorised into six major sections: scientific literacy, workplace skills, cultural literacy, hobbies and interests, continuing education, and silver age classes.
4. OUC deeply studies and implements the guiding principles of the National Conference on Education.
On 13 September 2024, OUC held an expanded meeting of the central group for theoretical study of the Party Committee to deeply understand and implement the guiding principles of the National Conference on Education.
OUC deeply studies and implements the guiding principles of the National Conference on Education. A three-year action plan will be formulated and implemented, focusing on the "two breakthroughs and two basics" goals. These goals include achieving breakthrough progress in the construction of a qualification framework and making significant breakthroughs in the development of a digital university. The University aims to fundamentally establish itself as a world-class open university with Chinese characteristics and to build a "support system" that serves a learning country. Efforts are being made to construct a ubiquitous and accessible lifelong education system, and to continuously advance the construction of a learning society and country through digital empowerment of lifelong education.
5. OUC has fully deployed the comprehensive reform of "Artificial Intelligence + Education".
On 28 October, OUC has issued "Implementation Opinions on Empowering with Digital Intelligence and Collaboratively Promoting Integrated Reform of Open University Education and Teaching" within its educational system. This document initiated the full deployment of the comprehensive reform of “Artificial Intelligence + Education”, with 15 pilots for teaching and evaluation reforms being implemented.
6. OUC vigorously implements the "OUC Domestic Service" training initiative.
On 21 November, the 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference commenced. Concurrently, the parallel session on "Integration of Vocational Education and Lifelong Learning" was held in Tianjin.
National Development and Reform Commission, along with four other departments, issued the "Opinions on Deepening the Integration of Industry and Education in the Domestic Service Industry", which clearly outlines the implementation of the "OUC Domestic Service" training initiative. During the parallel session on "Integration of Vocational Education and Lifelong Learning" at the 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference, the "OUC Domestic Service" training initiative was officially launched. Concurrently, OUC is in the process of establishing a national digital intelligence domestic service industry-education integration community, using the "OUC Domestic Service" training initiative to drive the integrated development of non-academic and academic education within its educational system.
7. SUC has achieved new breakthroughs in expanding and strengthening its operations.
On 7 February, the Seniors University of China (SUC) Exhibition Performance on Teaching Achievements and the Special Spring Festival Show for 2024 were broadcast on Channel 1 of China Education Television.
SUC has been serving the national strategy to actively address the aging population, and has achieved new successes in expanding and strengthening its operations. It has established more than 60,000 learning sites across the country, serving over 40 million students and providing support services to a cumulative total of over 190 million people. The School of Proactive Health was founded, focusing on creating six high-quality TCM Master Lectures, which have been viewed by 30 million people. The 2024 Special Spring Festival Show themed "In the Name of Youth" was held, with online and television coverage reaching over 56 million people. A special programme for the Double Ninth Festival, co-produced with CCTV, reached an audience of over 480 million people.
8. OUC has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards and recognitions.
OUC, representing MOE, wins first prize in the Singing Competition Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of New China.
OUC(SUC) was honoured with the May 1st Labour Award Certificate for Central and State Organs. The choir of OUC, representing MOE, won first prize in a singing competition themed "An Ode to New China, Forging Ahead in the New Era," OUC was approved as the national key research base for textbook construction. The submission from OUC titled "Innovative Practice of Large-Scale Personalized English Teaching Based on AI Technology" was selected into the first batch of 18 typical case studies showcasing "Artificial Intelligence + Higher Education" application scenarios.
9. OUC holds publicity activity on the "Spirit of Educators".
On-site of the "Spirit of Educators" Publicity Activity at OUC
On 11 June 2024, OUC holds publicity activity on the "Spirit of Educators". Six members of the 2024 "Spirit of Educators" touring publicity team, organised by MOE, presented reports. The event was conducted both online and offline. Meanwhile, around 51,000 individuals from the educational system participated in the collective learning session online.
10. Two decades of educational achievements of the "One College Student Per Village" Programme sponsored by MOE.
The "OUC Journey" Press Team interviewed Zhu Delin, a student of the 2021 Class of Administrative Management (Rural Management) under the "One College Student Per Village" Programme.
In 2004, MOE initiated the "One College Student Per Village" Programme, which has been meticulously organised and executed by the OUC and its educational system. As of December 2024, the Programme has reached across 29 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), enrolling a total of 1.157 million students and graduating 815,000 university students for rural areas.
By OUC