Recently, in an effort to advance the cultural and aesthetic education at the Open University of China (OUC) and to substantially improve the core qualities of open education students as well as the teaching skills of calligraphy instructors, distinguished Professor Pang Zhonghua from the School of Art at the OUC, a renowned hard-pen calligrapher and educator, visited the Mianyang branch of the Sichuan Open University (OU) and the Qingdao Open University (OU). During his visits, he conducted themed calligraphy lectures.

At Mianyang OU, Professor Pang Zhonghua delivered a themed lecture titled "Let ‘Happy Calligraphy' Sing under the Blue Sky of Open University." The event was attended by Niu Tao, assistant director of the School of Art at the OUC, and Jing Liangbin, secretary of the Party Committee of Mianyang OU, both of whom gave speeches. Wu Qiang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Mianyang OU, hosted the event.

Professor Pang Zhonghua delivered an insightful lecture on the development and evolution of Chinese calligraphy, highlighting the interconnections between calligraphy creation, music, and poetry, and sharing engaging and relevant content. The lecture was attended by over 100 individuals, including leaders and member representatives of the Sichuan Calligraphers Association, calligraphy teachers from primary and secondary schools directly affiliated with Mianyang's Fucheng District, student representatives from community and senior universities in Mianyang City, as well as faculty and students from Mianyang OU. Additionally, nearly 1,000 students participated via a cloud terminal, enriching the event with their presence.

At Qingdao OU, Professor Pang Zhonghua delivered a special lecture on hard-pen calligraphy as part of the "Learn at Qingdao with Famous Lecturers" series. The event featured a speech by Jin Yan, deputy director of the School of Art at the OUC. Additionally, Li Minggang, secretary of the Party Committee at Qingdao OU, awarded Professor Pang Zhonghua with a visiting professorship at Qingdao OU. The event was also attended by Sun Mingming, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and vice president of Qingdao OU. Li Hong, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of Qingdao OU, hosted the event.

In the lecture, Professor Pang Zhonghua shared his valuable experiences in teaching and promoting hard-pen calligraphy throughout the years, including the figures and books that profoundly influenced him in his youth. He also introduced the basic strokes and key aspects of writing in regular script, focusing on angles, strength, structure, rhythm, and more. Over 100 students from Qingdao OU's senior and community education programmes, along with the Qingdao OU teaching staff, attended the lecture in person. Additionally, an impressive audience of 320,000 tuned in online to watch the event.This year, the School of Art at the OUC organised a series of lectures featuring Professor Pang Zhonghua, an expert in hard-pen calligraphy. These lectures aimed to share insights into the writing techniques, educational approaches, and teaching experiences associated with hard-pen calligraphy with seven provincial and municipal branches. This initiative has significantly contributed to the high-quality development of the calligraphy major. It also plays a vital role in promoting aesthetic education on campus and advancing the rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture within the open universities.

By Xu Hang, OUC