To implement the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) call to promote reading, guide staff to enjoy reading, read good books and be good at reading, the Open University of China (OUC) launched a book sharing activity hosted by the leader of the university on 23April 2023, as part of OUC Reading Month.

Fan Xianrui, member of the OUC Party Committee and vice president, attended the event, along with staff members from the departments she presides over.

Fan said books are an important tool for people to gain knowledge, wisdom and virtue. She said reading books should be regarded as a life goal, a responsibility and a spiritual pursuit and that reading should be promoted across the university as part of broader efforts to promote hard work and service in the new era. She introduced a book written by Professor Han Yuhai on Marxist theory, which encourages participants to learn the scientific approach of Marxism to analyse contemporary politics, the economy, education and social development. She also called upon participants to apply reading, teaching and writing as part of a three-pronged method in their teaching and education practice, with a focus on fostering virtue through education. Finally, she said she hoped staff members could leverage the rich learning resources of the university to engage in effective reading and the sharing of quality books, integrating reading, theory and practice.

Eight staff members shared their reading list with attendees. It covered a wide variety of categories and content, from red classics and famous literary works to books about philosophy and academic studies. They shared insights into the role of reading on life growth and lifelong learning. The participants said the book sharing activity was helpful and that they hoped it would become a regular event to promote mutual sharing and learning.

The activity took place both online and offline, with over 70 staff members from eight departments.

Written by Wang Guopeng, photographed by Li Donghai, OUC