To thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and the National Conference on Education, and to enforce the Healthy China Initiative (2019–2030) and the Outline of the National Action Plan for Scientific Literacy (2021–2035), the Open University of China (OUC) hosted the inaugural pharmaceutical science popularisation competition titled “Pharmacy for Health, Competing for the Future” on 28 November 2024.
This event aimed to guide the public in scientific and rational use of medication and enhance health literacy, stimulate the innovative and creative vitality of students majoring in pharmacy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), showcase their pharmaceutical science popularisation capabilities and comprehensive service quality, and further improve the quality of talent cultivation. Vice President Zhou Tianming of the OUC attended and addressed the event. Around 110 representatives from the headquarters’ of middle management, faculty members from the School of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College), and guiding and leading teachers from the OUC branches and colleges, participated on-site, with more than 560 viewers watching the competition via live stream.
Zhou Tianming emphasised that the OUC is committed to serving the major national strategies, focusing on constructing a ubiquitous and accessible lifelong education system as its central mission. He highlighted the collective efforts to answer the two significant questions of our time: "A Leading Country in Education, the OUC’s Role" and "Building a Learning Society, the OUC’s Role". The university aims to provide platforms and opportunities for students' growth and success. He encouraged the students to strive hard, live up to their youth and era, and use the competition as a stepping stone to become a new generation with ideals, a sense of responsibility, resilience, and dedication. Zhou urged them to realise their personal value by contributing to national strategies and achieve their dreams through perseverance and determination.
The judging panel for the on-site competition included Professor Wu Jianhui, vice dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Capital Medical University; Professor Yin Xingbin, vice dean of the School of Chinese Materia Medica at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Liu Fang, a professor of pharmacy and director of the Pharmacy Department at Peking University Third Hospital's Haidian Branch; Li Peihong, a professor of pharmacy from Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Yan Suying, a professor of pharmacy from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University; Wang Lixia, a professor of pharmacy from Guang’anmen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; and Professor Guo Xiaoxia from the OUC. The judges provided professional evaluations of the competition and fully affirmed the OUC for its significant contributions to serving major national strategies, particularly in fostering a learning society, and highly praised the participants’ performances.
Since the launch of the OUC’s inaugural pharmaceutical science popularisation competition titled “Pharmacy for Health, Competing for the Future”, all branches (colleges) have actively responded. They have made extensive mobilisation and careful plans, and earnestly organised preliminary rounds. A total of 93 entries from 22 branches (colleges) advanced to the semi-finals. After expert evaluation, 16 entries qualified for the on-site competition, with five winning first prizes and eight receiving second prizes.
All the participants expressed that the competition was not only an opportunity for showcasing, exchanging, and sharing ideas but also a valuable chance for learning, improvement, and self-development. The competition is expected to further deepen the education and teaching reform of majors related to pharmacy and traditional Chinese medicine at the OUC, enhance the quality of talent cultivation, and make greater contributions to the construction of Healthy China, a strong education nation, and a learning society and country.
It has been 23 years since the offering of majors of pharmacy sciences at the OUC. As of the autumn semester of 2024, the programmes have enrolled about 450,000 students in total, with approximately 280,000 graduates and more than 160,000 current students. The enrolment spans 40 branches (colleges), and most students are pharmacy service professionals working in community and hospital pharmacies. Rooted in frontline positions across the country, these students not only serve as guardians of public health but also as practitioners of the Healthy China Initiative, making significant contributions to the safe and rational use of medications for the people.
Written by Yu Caiyuan and photo by Zhao Hongle, OUC