In the graduation thesis defense for open education undergraduate students in the spring of 2015 hosted by Qingyuan Radio and TV University (RTVU),Zhejiang province, held from May 10-12, 2015“Father and Son Soldiers” and “Husband and Wife Sing Together”were put on show. The students participating in the graduation dissertation said that “open education makes learning more convenient.”

Yao Haofan, a 26 year-old student in the Administration Management undergraduate class,Spring 2013, works for Longquan Natural Gas Co. Ltd. Yao Haofan’s father,Yao Delong,is a student in the Administration Management undergraduate class for Autumn 2015, and is working at the county Sanitation Supervision Institute. At home, Yao Delong is Yao Haofan’s father. However, at school Yao Haofan is the “senior fellow”. Due to his age, Yao Delong is not very good at operating computers. As a result,his son helped him to finish his formative assessment tests and write his graduation thesis. Yao Haofan commented that “My father told me to study hard when I was a little boy. I never expected that I would teach my father to study. My father looked more nervous than me during the graduation dissertation. Yao Delong was very happy to have smoothly completed his graduation dissertation and said that, “The RTVU helped me realize my dream of obtaining an undergraduate degree.”

Xiang Wentao (23 years old) and Tang Shudan (23 years old) are not only classmates in the Administration Management undergraduate class for Autumn 2013;they are also a loving couple. Both are working at the toll station on Longqing high way. When talking about why they decided to attend the RTVU, Tang Shudan said, “I didn’t study hard at school. My college entrance examination results were not good so I could only attend junior college. However, the requirements for education background are increasingly high and I feel that my own knowledge can’t meet the needs of my work. On weekdays I am usually very busy so I chose to study at an RTVU at the weekend to increase my knowledge.” Xiang Wentao said that he has learned much from both face-to-face teaching and self-directed learning, including specialized knowledge in the field of administration management, but as well as computer operation and applications. The couple was anxious to out-perform others. They supervised and learned from each other. In each test, their scores were always among the best, especially Tang Shudan, who has been recommended to apply for the 2015 Provincial RTVU Scholarship. As for the achievements she has gained, Tang Shudan said that, “I have finally paid off my past debts.” She said that she would continue to study hard in her future work and enhance herself continuously. After finishing the graduation dissertation, the couple gave each other a knowing smile. They enrolled hand in hand and now they have completed their graduation dissertation together. There were happiness and joy in their eyes. They expressed appreciation for the instruction of their counselors and teachers,and gave thanks to the RTVU for the chance to learn. A person in charge at Qingyuan RTVU said that there were many such cases and that open universities will continue to grow bigger and stronger to provide a chance for those who want to study and are willing to study. This embodies the target of the construction of a “learning society”.

All 161 students from the spring and fall 2013 semesters of Qingyuan RTVU’s Accounting, Law and Administration Management majors have passed their thesis.

                                                                              By Zhao Yu from Zhejiang Qingyuan RTVU