On 8 April 2024, Vice President Zhou Tianming of the Open University of China (OUC), also known as the Seniors University of China (SUC), led a delegation to Hainan Open University (OU) to explore advancements in elderly education and to inaugurate the Hainan Branch of the SUC.

Xia Xu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Hainan OU, and Zhan Xingwen, vice president of Hainan OU, were present at the unveiling ceremony. The event was also attended by key figures from the Division of Vocational and Adult Education of the Hainan Provincial Department of Education. The ceremony gathered around 100 participants, including staff from the OUC (SUC) Centre for Teaching and Academic Affairs and the Department of Reform and Development, leaders from various departments and colleges of Hainan OU, all staff from the Department of Community Education (College), media reporters, and representatives of elderly students. This significant event marks the beginning of a new chapter in elderly education in Hainan.

Zhou Tianming and Xia Xu jointly unveiled the plaque for the SUC Hainan Branch. At the ceremony, Zhou Tianming recognised Hainan OU's contributions to elderly education and expressed his congratulations on the establishment of the SUC Hainan Branch. He noted that since its inception, the SUC has upheld the educational principles of "virtue, learning, health, happiness, accomplishment." The organisation has consistently championed the innovative development of elderly education, continuously enhanced its educational network, and further optimized its platform functions. Efforts have been made to develop an elderly-friendly curriculum system, assemble a diverse and high-quality teaching team, organise characteristic activities, and expand its social influence. The launch of the SUC Hainan Branch represents a new chapter in promoting the high-quality development of elderly education in Hainan through innovative methods. He emphasized the necessity to implement the decisions and strategies of the Leading Party Group of the Ministry of Education (MOE), diligently execute the requirements of the “Construction Project Action Plan of the Seniors University of China (2023-2025)” and the “Development Scheme of the System of the Seniors University of China,” enhance the multi-level elderly education network, and ensure that educational services extend to townships and sub-districts, as well as villages and neighborhoods, to support a greater number of elderly individuals.

Xia Xu stated in his speech that Hainan OU will seize the opportunity presented by the inauguration of the SUC Hainan Branch to ensure all aspects of the seniors university are handled with high quality. The public service platform of the SUC will be fully leveraged to enhance the sharing and collaborative contributions of educational resources, and to strengthen partnerships with open universities across various provinces and municipalities. Consequently, elderly friends will benefit from a conducive learning and activity environment, and robust support will be provided for Hainan's efforts to build a harmonious society where the elderly can learn, enjoy, and contribute.

Zhou Tianming and his delegation engaged in discussions and exchanges with relevant personnel from the Hainan Branch. They reviewed the progress of system construction and development assistance projects at Hainan OU, and conducted on-site inspections at the Wuzhishan branch school and the Lingshui Community Elderly Education School. They examined the development of elderly education at the Hainan Branch and gathered insights into typical experiences and practices.

By OUC