Beijing 16 April 2026 - The Open University of China (OUC), representing the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), held an online Signing Ceremony with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for the 39th AAOU Annual Conference. Dr. WANG Qiming, President of OUC and AAOU President, and Dr. Manuel M. Muhi, President of PUP, formally signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Dr. WANG Qiming stated that as the AAOU President and Secretariat, OUC will fully support PUP in preparing for the 39th AAOU Annual Conference. Both sides will work together to make this conference a grand gathering that builds consensus, deepens cooperation, and drives innovation. He expressed the hope that both sides will take this cooperation as an opportunity to continuously consolidate, deepen, and expand friendly cooperative relations, and jointly contribute to the high-quality development of open education.

Madam FAN Xianrui, AAOU Secretary General and Vice President of OUC, and Dr. Rudolf Anthony A. Lacerna, Executive Director of the Open University System of PUP, jointly witnessed the signing process.

Since the establishment of AAOU, the Annual Conference has been hosted by member institutions under the guidance of AAOU Secretariat. The 39th AAOU Annual Conference is scheduled to be held by PUP from 22 to 24 October 2026. As AAOU Secretariat, OUC will guide the university in steadily advancing various preparatory works to ensure the successful hosting of the conference.

Written by WANG Fei

Photo by ZHUGE Huanyu

Published: 17 April 2026