Zhang Yingzhao, from rural Hebei Province, is an assistant engineer with the Tianjin Haval Branch of the Great Wall Motor Company. He has achieved not only success but also a happy family life in Tianjin. His life shows how education can transform, in this case through the ‘Action Plan for Realising Dreams of Further Education’."

A few years ago, Zhang Yingzhao, who had just come to the big city, felt helpless and confused in the face of all the strange things around him. However, he is a very positive person, and had made up his mind to become a respected engineer. With the Tianjin Haval Branch of the Great Wall Motor Company expanding, he knew that, as a junior-college graduate, he would have to learn more. Through the Plan he was admitted to the Administrative Management major of a programme for upgrading junior-college to undergraduate degrees at the Open University of China (OUC).

Zhang Yingzhao cherished this opportunity, and took full advantage of it. He was strict with himself, made sure he had enough time outside of work, insisted on combining face-to-face teaching with online learning, participated in practical activities associated with the courses, and passed all his examinations. His desire for knowledge, conscientiousness and practicality were unanimously recognised by his teachers and fellow students.

With a few years of hard work, he grew rapidly, and came to stand out from his peers. Though only an assistant engineer, he has become indispensable to the company, with the leaders inviting him to participate in its day-to-day management. He understands how much the company trusts him. As a modern automobile company grows, more and more young and highly educated people from all over the country join it, which leads to management problems. His duty is to help in this regard. He sets an example everywhere, affecting and guiding employees with his actions and sincerity. In order to meet the management needs of a modern enterprise, he has remained as studious as he was at school, where he greatly improved his understanding of automobile-sales management. At work, he has been named a "Star of Technological Breakthrough" and "Excellent Employee", and won prizes in management error-proofing competitions.

Zhang Yingzhao does not hesitate to assert that the Plan changed his life. In just a few years, he went from being an ordinary employee to an assistant engineer, fulfilling his dream, while at the same time managing to integrate into city life and start a family. He feels that he belongs, has come far, but still has far to go. He "lives to learn," and wants to continue his studies forever.

By OUC Voice WeChat Official Account