On 12 December 2014, Vice President Zhang Jiyong of Beijing Open University (Beijing OU), came to the Wanxiangxintian Community at Changying, Chaoyang Distrcit, Beijing, to hold a graduation ceremony for the 94-year old Lu Juzhong and confer on her an honorary graduation certificate.

In the graduation speech made by Lu Juzhong, she said that in the past 3 years, Beijing OU has insisted on delivering teaching to her at home and provided her with a tailor-made learning plan, quality learning resources, and very considerate learner support, which brought vitality to her old life and made it possible for her to acquire new knowledge and broaden her horizons. Lu Juzhong said that although life may be limited, the acquisition of knowledge is an endless process. Getting a graduation certificate doesn’t mean the end of the path to obtain knowledge. She would set up a new learning plan and apply herself to the gaining of new knowledge throughout her life.   

Zhang Jiyong said that Lu Juzhong’s perseverance in the “live to learn and learn to live” principle and her healthy mental status defined as “no retirement of the mind or in learning!” is a vivid expression of the advanced concept of lifelong learning. It also confirms the philosophy of "making no distinctions in teaching" advocated by open universities.

Lu Juzhong started her studies in primary education of open education programem in the China Central Radio and TV University (CCRTVU, now the OUC) in September 2010, and has finished all of the undergraduate courses tailor-made for her by the OUC. 

By Yu Zhiwen, Beijing OU