With 45 branches nationwide, including Wuhan Radio and TV University and Hubei Radio and TV University, the Open University of China (OUC) quickly extended help and support through various channels when COVID-19 broke out in China at the end of January 2019. I never knew that we could work so closely together until the disease broke out.
The first unit that responded to the emergency was Beijing Open Edutainment Distance Centre, an affiliated organisation of the OUC, which donated RMB 100,000 and other epidemic protection equipment including masks and infrared thermometers. The entire donation was sent to Hubei Radio and TV University on the eve of Chinese New Year.
There are more than 130,000 registered students at Wuhan and Hubei Radio and TV Universities. In order to address their learning demands after the lockdown of Wuhan city, the OUC quickly uploaded a huge amount of free learning resources to many different platforms so that the students can stay safe at home and access their learning materials.
In early February, the number of confirmed cases in Wuhan was still increasing dramatically, putting people under great pressure. Wuhan and Hubei Radio and TV Universities were put into use as makeshift hospitals. A major challenge faced by the staff in the University was a shortage of masks and other protection equipment. The OUC headquarters called on its branches in other provinces and cities to extend a helping hand and support Wuhan Radio and TV University in riding out its difficulties. Everything was organised immediately and in an orderly manner. Within a short period of time, more than 15 branches and affiliated organisations collected protection equipment and sent to Wuhan. Altogether, we donated RMB 2,865,000, more than 70,000 masks, more than pairs of 80,000 medical gloves, more than 1,500 protective goggles, and 20 tons of disinfectant. In addition, the OUC headquarters donated RMB 1,000,000 to Wuhan and Hubei Radio and TV Universities.
Protective equipment from Ningxia Radio and TV University being sent to Wuhan
Protective equipment from Gansu Radio and TV University being sent to Wuhan
Unlike traditional universities, OUC students are part-time learners and 90 percent are adults who already have a job. Among those students, some are doctors or nurses. In order to make a contribution, many students voluntarily joined the front line fight against the epidemic. He Shan, a pharmacy undergraduate from the OUC Hebei Branch, went to Wuhan No. 7 Hospital to help patients. He Jianying, a doctor from Xi’an Radio and TV University, voluntarily applied to fight the epidemic in Wuhan. There are many similar examples of doctors and nurses going to Wuhan.
He Shan and her colleague in Wuhan No. 7 Hospital
In addition to these doctors and nurses, many other students are working on the front line. Feng Chunteng, a student from the OUC headquarters who works in the Civil Aviation Bureau, flew many times to transfer protective equipment to Wuhan. Zhou Shang, a rural college student from Hunan Province, has been working on the highway to inspect passing cars, trucks, coaches, and passengers since Chinese New Year. To date, 17 teachers from six branches and 163 students from 27 branches have devoted themselves to prevention work. Some are medical workers, some are community workers, some are village cadres, and some are volunteers.
Feng Chunteng onboard a flight
Zhou Shang working at his post
The OUC’s overseas partners also sent video clips expressing their support for Wuhan and China. All believe that China can and will defeat the virus.
I have been working at the OUC headquarters for over seven years and this is the first time that I have truly witnessed the headquarters and the branches working hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. The OUC is not an elite university, but it is still making an important contribution when our homeland is facing a difficult time. The OUC and its branches are like a family; when one is in trouble, the rest of the family joins together to help.
By Hou Songyan, OUC