At the invitation of the Open University of China (OUC), a three-person delegation from the Open University of Japan (OUJ) led by Vice President Professor Yoshiaki Hamada paid a visit to the OUC on March 15-16, 2010. Mr. Ruan Zhiyong, Secretary of the OUC Party Committee, and Party Committee Vice Secretary Zhang Shaogang met with the delegation.

The OUC leaders extended their regards to the Japanese delegation

and expressed their deep condolence to the families of the victims in the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Yoshiaki Hamada expressed thanks to the Chinese side for their concern and condolence.

In the discussion on the Sino-Japan cooperative project, the two parties decided to conduct cooperation and exchanges in the fields of the development of business Japanese courses, library books, and comparative studies on open and distance education between China and Japan. The two parties also discussed the preparation work for and the theme of the 3rd OUJ, OUC and KNOU International Seminar on Distance Education which will be held by the OUC in September 2011.

During their visit, the delegation visited the OUC Chinese Language Centre and the study center on Weigongcun Campus. The Japanese side said that they had got a better understanding of the OUC curriculum setup, teaching management and operation mode, and hoped that deeper cooperation would be carried out on teaching Chinese as a foreign language and personnel exchanges.

After their visit to the OUC, the delegation went on to Zhejiang Radio and TV University and Shanghai TV University for related academic investigation.

Since the signing of a cooperation agreement between the OUC on behalf of the China Radio and TV University system and the Open University of Japan on May 7, 2009, the two parties have conducted comprehensive and extensive cooperation in the fields of academic study, project development, sharing of teaching resources and exchange of teaching materials. This visit will play a positive role in deepening cooperation between the OUC and local radio and TV universities and their Japanese counterparts.

By Chen Haishan, the OUC