In order to deeply study and implement the guiding principle of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and further promote the high-quality development of the Technology Integration and Application of E-Learning, Ministry of Education (hereinafter referred to as Engineering Centre) for the integration and application of digital learning technologies at the Open University of China (OUC), on 4th March 1 2023, Fan Xianrui, member of the Party Committee and vice president of the OUC, led a delegation to visit and exchange ideas with the Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of the Ministry of Education at Nantong University (hereinafter referred to as the Laboratory).

The OUC also appointed Academician Gu Xiaosong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Department of Medicine of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as the chief consultant of the Engineering Centre.

Academician Gu Xiaosong introduced the current development status of Nantong University and the laboratory’s experience in maintaining its leading international position. He expressed his hope that the two teams could further strengthen exchanges and cooperation, guided by the concepts of digitalisation and internationalisation, to deepen cooperation in areas such as curriculum construction, digital medicine, and research application transformation, and to enhance the level of digital education and international influence.

Fan Xianrui introduced the main measures and progress of the OUC in implementing the national education digitalisation strategy and promoting the school’s digital transformation. She expressed that the Engineering Centre is willing to deepen cooperation with the team of academician Gu Xiaosong and Nantong University, jointly enhance scientific research capabilities and international competitiveness, and serve the construction of a society and country of learning where lifelong learning is pursued by all.

Both parties conducted in-depth discussions on future cooperation and reached a preliminary cooperation intention in the construction of digital universities, development of digital course resources, joint technological research and development, and joint application for national key projects. Both sides expressed that they will share their ideas and create platforms, leverage their respective resource advantages, and take practical actions to promote the national education digitalisation strategy and advance education equity.

By Wang Guopeng, OUC