On 13 July 2023, the Open University of China's (OUC) Faculty of Education organised an exclusive exchange event for young teachers centered around the topic of "A Leading Country in Education: The OUC's Role."

Six exceptional young teachers from the Faculty of Education shared their valuable insights and experiences in scientific research and teaching. Zhang Xia, dean of the Faculty of Education, introduced the theme and significance of this exchange activity, emphasizing the importance of learning from the six teachers, fostering meaningful exchanges, and continuously enhancing professionalism and job capabilities.

Ma Tengfei, deputy head of the School of Education Management, shared her diverse range of exchange activities during her visit to the University of London as a visiting scholar under the topic "Going Global and Bringing In: A Report on Exchanges." She discussed her involvement in various areas such as scientific research, teaching, learning design, study design, assessment design, student work, and teacher development. Reflecting on her experience, she highlighted the significance of "bringing in" and utilizing her newfound knowledge to enhance courses, support students, and plan for personal professional growth. Additionally, she stressed the necessity and importance of "going global" based on her own personal journey. She expressed the need for active communication, amplifying China's voice, and sharing China's valuable experiences.

Chen Fengying, a lecturer from the School of Basic Education, discussed her achievements in applying educational science projects in Beijing, focusing on the theme of "Embracing the Educational Research Mission and Advancing the Development of a Leading Country in Education." Chen emphasized the importance for young teachers from open universities to actively participate in the academic arena and ensure that the voice of open universities is heard.

Zhang Huirui, a lecturer from the School of Basic Education, presented her achievements in enhancing teachers' teaching abilities under the topic "Advancing in the Field of Teaching: Together, We Will Help Make China Great. Reflections and Achievements in Enhancing Young Teachers' Teaching Abilities." She emphasized the importance of considering three key aspects—materials, ideas, and expression—when designing an effective class.

Liu Jinglu, a lecturer from the School of Education Management, shared his expertise in online course development under the topic "Designing and Developing Courses in the Digital Era." He emphasized the importance of analyzing learners' needs and course content to determine the ideal blend of learning activities and technological solutions for creating effective and engaging courses. In the pursuit of building a leading country in education, Liu believes that young teachers at the OUC should seize the opportunity, prioritize enhancing their digital literacy in education, develop exemplary OUC courses, and establish a strong foundation for the creation of a world-class open university with distinct Chinese characteristics.

Zhang Fa, a lecturer from the School of Basic Education, discussed her insights on "ICOIE: The International Conference on Open and Innovative Education," focusing on her achievements in open educational resources. She shared the conference highlights, including discussions on educational technology tools, innovative teaching methods, and the development of open educational resources. Zhang also introduced the presented papers, teaching reform projects, and research on exploring learning motivation and teaching approaches for online education students.

Xia Jie, a lecturer from the School of Education Management, shared her experience studying "Excerpts of Xi Jinping's Writings on Investigation" and the valuable insights gained from her fact-finding trip to Heilongjiang. The trip focused on the theme of "Driving Teaching Reform through Investigation and Assisting Open Universities in Serving Social Development." Xia Jie firmly believes that open universities will maintain their significant role in promoting higher education accessibility, cultivating highly skilled professionals, ensuring equal educational opportunities, and nurturing digital human capital.

This event is part of a series of special study and discussion activities aimed at deepening the thematic education campaign on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Young Party members and members of the youth theory study group shared the practices and achievements of young teachers from open universities in their dedicated efforts towards building a leading country in education. They explored various aspects, including teaching, scientific research, investigation, research, and international exchanges, demonstrating the mission and responsibility of the OUC's young teachers. The exchange meeting received high praise from all participating teachers, fostering meaningful exchanges and discussions among the faculty members and forging a positive force for the future development of the faculty's work.

By OUC Faculty of Education