In alignment with the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's significant expositions on education, the Open University of China (OUC) organised the 23Y02 Training Class for Backbone Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses.

This event, which aimed to enhance the overall quality of teachers in ideological and political courses within the OUC's educational system and foster the substantive development of the School of Marxism, took place at Ningbo Open University (OU) from 6th to 10th November 2023. The training session brought together 90 teachers of ideological and political courses from the OUC headquarters, its 44 branches, and several industry colleges for a collaborative learning experience.

Wang Huaichao, dean of the OUC Research Institute of Contemporary Chinese Marxism and distinguished visiting professor at the OUC; Chen Kun, vice dean of the School of Marxism; and Guo Wei, vice president of Ningbo OU, were present at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by He Xinzhe, dean of the School of External Training at Ningbo OU.

At the opening ceremony, Guo Wei delivered a welcoming speech in which he introduced the rich cultural heritage and humanistic characteristics of Ningbo. He also discussed the operations of Ningbo OU, highlighting its unique features and achievements in the development of ideological and political theory courses. Following this, Chen Kun presented a mobilization speech. She provided detailed information on the importance of the training class, outlining the course arrangements, assessment methods, and disciplinary requirements. Chen Kun expressed her hope that all participating teachers would gain valuable insights, engage in reflective thinking, and find practical applications from the training class.

The training programme was meticulously designed for the training class, tailored to meet the specific needs of key teachers in ideological and political theory courses. Utilizing various methods such as special lectures, practical research, and group discussions, the class focused on analysing the current domestic and international contexts, designing and implementing ideological and political classes, advancing digital-empowered education, exploring fine traditional Chinese culture, red culture education, and fostering cultural empowerment in rural revitalisation. Esteemed experts and scholars were invited to deliver these special lectures. Following intensive learning sessions, participants engaged in group discussions on the training topics, fostering a dynamic and interactive atmosphere on site.

 
This training effectively guided teachers of ideological and political theory to seamlessly blend theory with practice. The content of the training emphasised not only the thorough integration of the Party's innovative theories into the teaching of ideological and political theory, particularly focusing on educating students with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, but also stressed the natural fusion of smaller classroom settings with broader societal contexts. This approach significantly enhanced the practical relevance and societal engagement of ideological and political theory courses. During the training, teachers shared their teaching achievements, bolstered their professional connections, and further advanced the integrated development of the schools of Marxism within the OUC educational system. This effort has laid a robust foundation for the high-quality advancement of ideological and political theory teaching.

Written by Sun Honglin and photographed by Meng Jia and Song Yingwei, OUC