On July 29, 2014, the Open University of China (OUC) established the School of the Ocean on the foundation of Qingdao Radio & TV University (RTVU) in Qingdao. This raised the curtain on the OUC's strategy of leveraging modern distance education technology to promote the reform and development of marine education and accelerate the training of skilled professionals specializing in the marine industry.

Yang Zhijian, President of the OUC, Yan Bing, Vice President of the OUC, Wang Weiping, Deputy Secretary-General of the Qingdao municipal government, and Lee Min, Deputy Secretary of the Colleges and Universities Working Committee of the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the CPC were all on hand to unveil the OUC's School of the Ocean, and the School of Blue Economy, Qingdao RTVU. Yang Zhijian and Lee Min delivered speeches at the unveiling ceremony. At the ceremony, Yan Bing read A Notice on the Establishment of the OUC's School of the Ocean, the OUC. Huang Tonghua, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Qingdao RTVU also delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Yang Zhijian, on behalf of the OUC, expressed his congratulations to Qingdao RTVU and affirmed the efforts of the OUC's School of the Ocean in contributing towards beneficial research and exploration. He stressed that the establishment of the OUC's School of the Ocean is a new achievement in the school-running organizational system being built by the OUC, reflecting the concept of integrating the open university into society. Also, this is a new initiative for Qingdao RTVU, closely focusing on marine studies, broadening educational ideas, and promoting quality of open education. The OUC's School of the Ocean should adapt to social and economic development needs, adhere to its scientific orientation and school-management characteristics, and make better use of collection, integration, and sharing of high-quality educational resources. The OUC will continue to give full support to the construction and development of the OUC's School of the Ocean, making positive contributions for better serving the marine economy of Qingdao and even national marine strategies.

At the ceremony, Li Min pointed out that the establishment of the OUC's School of the Ocean is a great opportunity for Qingdao to improve its marine education system and implement the modernization of marine education. As a special pilot of the OUC in building a targeted discipline school, the OUC's School of the Ocean is believed to make a positive contribution for the economic construction and social development of Qingdao by fully integrating nationwide high-quality marine educational resources. He hoped that in the construction of the OUC's School of the Ocean, Qingdao RTVU could continue reform and innovation in the professional training model of the OUC, cooperate more widely with industry companies, make remarkable achievements in the enhancement of professional development and curriculum-building, make constant breakthroughs in the innovation and exploration of education development, operation, and management mechanisms of the School of the Ocean, as well as make a positive contribution towards positioning Qingdao as a regional economic centre and an international city.

Huang Tonghua said in his welcoming speech that now is the right time for the establishment of the OUC's School of the Ocean, as there’s yet to be a distance education institutions focused on marine teaching. Thus, its establishment is the first step towards building a lifelong marine educational system. It is bound to be a beneficial supplement for the healthy and orderly development in the marine educational cause, and provides sustainable power and a source for training in marine industries. The School will constantly promote the advantages of marine education; promote an in-depth integration of marine education and information technology; strive to explore the school-running system building of the OUC as well as its model of professional training and teaching methods; enhance its ability to serve for the economic development and social progress of Qingdao; make a due contribution for building a lifelong education system and a learning society in Qingdao.

The heads of relevant departments at the OUC, Sun Xianmin, President of Heilongjiang RTVU, Zhang Yaobin, President of Shanxi RTVU, Li Qingmin, President of Shandong RTVU, and heads of its relevant departments attended the meeting.

The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Li Hong, Vice President of Qingdao RTVU. Vice President Jiang Junjie, and Wei Feng, Secretary of Committee for Discipline Inspection, Qian Fuqiang, leaders and department heads at Jiaozhou Branch, Jiaonan Branch, Laixi Branch, Laoshan Branch, Chengyang Branch, Jimo Branch, Pingdu Branch, and Huangdao Adult Education School of Qingdao RTVU participated in the meeting.

The founding of the OUC's School of the Ocean is an important initiative for the OUC to proactively follow the national marine strategy. The School of the Ocean will be based on the rich teaching resources in the field of marine science and will be able to integrate and utilize them nationwide. It is oriented towards the relevant industry professionals, especially the professionals on the manufacturing and service line. The School will help them by offering degree and non-degree continuing education, and will focus on building a complete teaching and curriculum system for a marine major for the OUC.

By Qingdao RTVU