Beijing, 16 April 2025 - To foster exchanges and mutual learning between China and ASEAN countries in the fields of rural education and sustainable agricultural development, the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED) organised a delegation from the "Education for Sustainable Rural Development" International Conference to visit the Open University of China (OUC) for on-site research.

Over 20 people participated in the discussions, including project coordinators from UNESCO INRULED, faculty representatives from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), agricultural practitioners and youth delegates from ASEAN countries. and relevant personnel from OUC’s Lifelong Education Research Institute, School of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College), and College of International Education.

During the visit, OUC’s School of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College) introduced its flagship initiative, the Ministry of Education’s "One College Student Per Village" Programme. The presentation detailed its background, basic situations, key features, implementation strategies, and successful examples in cultivating local rural talent. Additionally, the Lifelong Education Research Institute provided a brief update on the development of rural community learning centres in China.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on rural education development in Southeast Asia and the adaptation of OUC’s online agriculture and forestry courses for global audiences. Both parties agreed that this visit would deepen mutual understanding and that OUC’s exemplary projects could serve as a blueprint for scalable solutions to rural talent development and capacity building in ASEAN countries.

By Institute of Lifelong Education Research