On October 26th, 2011, a symposium for the establishment of key research topics for 2011 was held at the Open University of China. The symposium outlined the research background, significance, goals and basic status of the topics.
The establishment of key research topics for 2011 is an effort to methodically tackle critical issues involved in building and reforming a national open university. This year, academic research will be focused on the following four areas: development strategy
On October 2nd, 2011, during the ICDE 24th World Conference, President Yang Zhijian of the Open University of China （OUC） and President Susan Aldridge of the University of Maryland University College （UMUC） signed an agreement of cooperation in Bali, Indonesia. The two parties intend to cooperate in the areas of joint research, academic exchange, credit transfer, joint degree programmes, and so on. The two schools also established a strategic partnership.
UMUC was established in 1947.
On October 2nd, 2011, the Open University of China (OUC) Chinese Language Center signed an agreement of cooperation with Indonesia's Victor Language Centre in a ceremony on Bali Island.
President of the OUC, Yang Zhijian, and Ardjan Leo, Vice Chairman of the Association of Social Care and Education of Chinese Indonesian Community in North Sumatra Indonesia and Coordinator of Foreign Language College of International Friendship of Asia attended the signing ceremony. Arifin Zain, Executive Chairman of Djakarta Chinese Education Coordination Organization, Director of Indonesia Ministry of Education Cooperating Agency of Joint Secretariat and Director
From September 25th to 28th, 2011, a delegation of the Open University of China (OUC), led by Vice President Yan Bing, attended the Fourteenth Cambridge International Conference on Open, Distance and e-Learning held in the Madingley Hall of St. Edmund's College at Cambridge University.
The China-U.S. "Training, Exchange and Research" Conference on Distance Education was held in Nanjing from September 16th to 18th, 2011. It was hosted by China Youth Center for International Exchange, and jointly sponsored by the Chinese University Distance Education Committee of China Educational Technology Association, Educational Reform Committee of China Adult Education Association and the Open University of China, and undertaken by Jiangsu Radio and TV University. Yan Xueqian, Deputy Director of China Youth Center for International Exchange; Dr. Susan Aldridge from the University of Maryland University College; Zhang Shaogang, Vice President of the Open University
On September 19, 2011, the 3rd OUC/OUJ/KNOU International Seminar was held in Beijing under the theme "Reforming Educational Management in Open Universities".
President Yang Zhijian from the Open University of China (OUC), President Yoichi Okabe from the Open University of Japan (OUJ), President Nam Chul Cho from the Korea National Open University (KNOU) and President Deng Mengzhong from Shenzhen Radio and TV University (Shenzhen RTVU) of China attended the meeting and made speeches. The four presidents fully expressed their willingness to jointly develop and share resources, facilitate staff exchanges
A nine-member delegation of the Open University of China (OUC) led by President Yang Zhijian participated in the 24th ICDE World Conference on Open and Distance Learning under the theme of "Expanding Horizons—New Approaches to Open and Distance Learning (ODL)" between 2-5 October 2011, in the Island of Bali, Indonesia. The Conference focuses on issues related to the role of ODL at the leading edge of online learning paradigm from organizing distance education
On September 1st 2011, the signing ceremony for the "Agreement on the OUC Assistance to Tibet University for Joint Construction of the OUC School of Xizang During the 12th Five-Year Plan Period" was held at Tibet University. Director of the Department of Education in Tibet Autonomous Region, Song Heping, OUC President Yang Zhijian and Vice President Yan Bing, Secretary of the C.P.C. Tibet University Party Committee Fang Lingmin, and President Gesang Qunpei of Tibet University attended the signing ceremony presided over by Vice President Lou Yuanbing of Tibet University. Persons from the related departments of the OUC and Tibet University attended the opening ceremony as well.