On October 18, a three-person delegation from Wright State University (WSU) of the US visited Shenyang Radio and TV University (RTVU). The delegation included Dr. Sundaram Narayanan, WSU provost; Dr. Hong Lang, WSU executive director of the International Exchange Department; and Dr. Li Yi, WSU dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. The trio was given a warm reception by Wang Bin, Shenyang RTVU president, the university’s vice presidents Fan Jie and Lü Yuming, as well as other senior personnel from various departments.On October 15, a six-person delegation led by Dr. Chailerd Pichitpornchai, President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and Dr. Richard Ng, Director of the Learning Centre of the Open University Malaysia (OUM) visited Beijing Open University (BOU). BOU Vice President Jiang Rao met the visiting guests and introduced the university’s history and construction. Representatives from the Academic Affairs Department, Resource Construction Service Centre and Student Affairs Centre held a meeting with the assembled guests.
On September 2, 2013, Latina Lab, Oslo University College’s digital teaching development research lab joined the Support Alliance for the OUC Project Research Center. The lab’s Director, Professor Helge Hoivik, was invited to join the project research centre’s technical committee. Professor Yang Zhijian, president of the OUC,
A Delegation from Canada’s Thompson Rivers University (TRU) visited the Open University of China (OUC) on July 2, 2013. The delegation included Dr. Alan Shaver, president of TRU, and Ms Baihua Chadwick, interim associate vice president and CEO of TRU World Global Operations. Yang Zhijian, president of the OUC, and Zhang Shaogang, deputy party secretary of the OUC, welcomed the delegation.
A delegation from New Zealand’s Massey University visited the Open University of China (OUC) on June 6, 2013. The delegation included Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey and four other people. Zhang Shaogang, deputy secretary of the OUC Party Committee, and Yang Yongbo and Chen Haishan, director and deputy director of the OUC
On May 28, 2013, leaders from the OUC and Riga City Council’s Education, Culture and Sports Department signed a cooperation agreement at Riga City Hall. The two sides also attended the unveiling of the first Chinese distance learning center in the Baltic region, of which they are co-founders. Riga City Executive Juris Radzevičs gave a speech at the ceremony.
With the rapid development of online learning in China, online learning practitioners are having to acquire a wider range of skills and qualities. The Open University, UK (OUUK), a partner in the “Training for Online Learning Practitioners” project, sent Dr. Martin Smith to the Open University of China (OUC) for one month to help reform the project’s courses. Our reporter was honored to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Smith.
On May 9, 2013, the OUC and the Open University, UK (OUUK) signed a strategic cooperation memorandum in Beijing.
According to the memorandum, the two sides will explore the development of online distance education based