On 26 December, the Open University of China (OUC) held a meeting to deploy the degree thesis assessment work for the 2025 autumn semester. The meeting aimed to review past experiences and issues in degree work, deploy strategies for the current semester, unify assessment standards, reach consensus, and enhance thesis quality. OUC Vice President LI Song attended the event, which was chaired by GU Xiaohua, Director of the Academic Affairs Department.

LI Song underscored the critical role of degree work and called for system-wide coordination, a quality-focused approach, and strict adherence to standards to collectively enhance the quality of OUC degree work. He raised four requirements: establishing a robust OUC degree-quality perspective with stringent thesis-assessment criteria; building a sense of responsibility and effective evaluation mechanisms while fully leveraging the roles of degree-review and degree-conferment committees to ensure thesis quality; developing a high-calibre teaching body, strengthening key degree-work processes, and refining support mechanisms; and innovating training content and delivery through regular specialised sessions, experience exchanges, and case-study learning to address prominent issues in degree theses.

Representatives from the Sichuan, Shanghai, and Fujian branches shared their practices in dissertation reviews. LIN Xiuqin, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Department, outlined the specific arrangements and requirements for the degree dissertation assessment. Members of the OUC 5th Academic Degree Assessment Committee, leaders of 65 branches (colleges), thesis reviewers, and relevant school heads and Academic Affairs Department staff from the headquarters attended the meeting online and onsite.

Written by ZHOU Mingkun

Photo by LIU Yuxia