On 9 October 2024, Harlena Harris, programme director of the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), sent a letter to Fan Xianrui, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of the Open University of China (OUC),  congratulating the successful completion of the international collaborative research project "Fostering Digital Competency, Building Re-Employment Capacity, and Enhancing Well-being for Older Adults in the Digital Economy" (Project No.: CN HRD 05 2022A).

Harlena Harris pointed out that this project made a beneficial attempt in promoting the health and well-being of older adults in the APEC region and actively explored inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. The project is highly aligned with the APEC HRDWG's 2024 theme, "Building the Bridge from the Informal to Formal Economy: Promoting Investment in Inclusive and Equitable Human Resources Development in the Asia-Pacific Region." All APEC Economies, especially the younger older adults in the Asia-Pacific region, have gained valuable insights from the research outcomes of the project.

The project was established in October 2022 and was led by Fan Xianrui in the application process. During the project period, the project team, in cooperation with top-tier domestic universities, carried out scientific research work. They completed two reports, namely "Background Paper" and "Older Adults in the Era of Digitalization: A Survey of Digital Competency and Skills for Older Adults in the Asia-Pacific Region". Additionally, they developed three micro-credential courses and organised events such as the "APEC Workshop on Digital Competency of Younger Older Adults", achieving substantial practical results and gaining valuable experience in applying for and leading international collaborative research projects for the OUC.

By Hou Songyan, OUC