Organized by the Global Universities in Distance Education (GUIDE) Association, the 5th GUIDE International Conference was held between November 18-19, 2011 in Rome, Italy. The theme for this year’s conference was "E-learning innovative models for the integration of education, technology and research". More than 100 experts and scholars from all over the world in the field of distance education participated in the conference.

There were five sub-themes for the conference, as follows: "E-Learning Quality Standards: Update Research, Best Cases and Experiences"; "Instructional Design: How to Effectively Combine Technology and Pedagogy"; "Simulations and Multiusers Virtual Environment (MUVE)"; "Assessment, Evaluation and Self-Assessment Systems in Distance Education"; "Guidance Services and E-Portfolio Supporting E-Learning Quality".

The Open University of China also sent a delegation to the conference and presented two papers entitled "Formative Computer-Based Assessment as Open Education Practice in China: A Case Study of the OUC Integrated English Courses", and "Modern Open Learning in China".

GUIDE is a non-profit organization founded by the Guglielmo Marconi University in 2005. The association aims to facilitate the sharing of experience and resources in the realm of information and communication technology around the world and promote international cooperation on the application and research of digital technology. At present, there are more than 100 universities and institutions of higher education joining the association, including Shanghai TV University and Tianjin Radio & TV University as the representatives of China.

Zhang Yuguang, the OUC