The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) emphasises the crucial need to "advance educational digitalisation and foster a learning society and country where lifelong learning is pursued by all." As we strive toward the second centenary goal, the Open University of China (OUC) is committed to fully implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, inspired by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The OUC will play an essential role in supporting the construction of a learning society, contributing to the development of a strong educational powerhouse, and furthering the great cause of national rejuvenation.

In 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping listened to Yang Changjiang’s report on the development of distinctive industries and their role in leading villagers out of poverty and towards prosperity in recent years.

On 17 September 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping reviewed poverty alleviation and industrial development efforts in Dongyue Village, Wenshu Township, Guangshan County, Henan Province. Yang Changjia, a student at Guangshan Radio and TV University (a branch of Henan Radio and TV University) and the secretary of Party branch of Dongyue Village, briefed General Secretary Xi Jinping on the development of distinctive industries and their role in leading villagers out of poverty and towards prosperity in recent years.

General Secretary Xi Jinping conducted an on-site inspection at Dongyue Village, Wenshu Township, Guangshan County, Henan Province.

In 2019, the OUC held its First CPC Congress.  

In November 2019, the OUC held its first CPC Congress, during which the "Three-Step" strategy was introduced, with the clear objective of building the OUC into a world-class open university.

OUC held its first CPC congress.

In 2020, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visited the OUC for inspection and research.

On 15 January 2020, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan conducted an inspection at the OUC and delivered strategic instructions.

Sun Chunlan visited the OUC for inspection and research.

In 2020, the Ministry of Education released OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan.

On 31 August 2020, the Ministry of Education released the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan, which mandates the development of the OUC into China's leading platform for lifelong education, a primary platform for online education, and a platform for flexible learning and international collaboration. The plan positions the OUC as a crucial supporter of universal lifelong learning and a strong foundation for building a skilled society.

OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan

In 2021, 39 provincial Radio and TV universities have been renamed as open universities.

On 9 February 2021, the Ministry of Education issued a circular letter on the "Record of the Renaming of 39 Provincial Radio and TV Universities as Open Universities".

39 provincial Radio and TV universities have been renamed as open universities.

In 2021, the "One College Student Per Village" programme was awarded the 2020 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education (UNESCO Prize for the Use of ICT in Education).

The "One College Student Per Village" programme was awarded the 2020 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education (UNESCO Prize for the Use of ICT in Education) on 6 April 2021.

The "One College Student Per Village" programme was awarded the 2020 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education (UNESCO Prize for the Use of ICT in Education).

In 2021, it was explicitly stated that the establishment of the Seniors University of China should be based on the OUC.

On 18 November 2021, the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Strengthening the Work on Population Ageing in the New Era" was released. The document explicitly stated that the establishment of the Seniors University of China  should be based on the OUC, aiming to build a nationwide platform for the sharing of elderly education resources and public services.

"Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Strengthening the Work on Population Ageing in the New Era"

In 2022, the Lifelong Education Platform was launched.

On 20 May 2022, the Lifelong Education Platform was launched.

The OUC held an inauguration ceremony for the Lifelong Education Platform.

In 2023, Seniors University of China was established.

On 3 March 2023, Huai Jinpeng, minister of education, attended the inaugural event of the Seniors University of China (SUC) and delivered a speech. He emphasised the need to mobilise the entire education system to ensure the successful operation of the SUC, to gather resources from across society to collaboratively create a boundaryless university, and to leverage the momentum of digitalisation to open and develop a successful university for seniors.

Inauguration Ceremony of the SUC

In 2023, the Secretariat of the ASEAN-China Digital Education Alliance was housed at the OUC

On 29 August 2023, the ASEAN-China Digital Education Alliance was established, with its Secretariat being housed at the OUC.

ASEAN-China Digital Education Forum

In 2023, a seminar on advancing the construction of a digital university was convened.

On 26 November 2023, the OUC hosted a seminar focused on advancing the construction of a digital university. During this event, a specialised task force was established, and an expert advisory committee was formed.

Seminar on Advancing the Construction of a Digital University

In 2024, the parallel session of the 2024 World Digital Education Conference was held.

In January 2024, the OUC held the parallel session "Education Digitalisation and Learning Society Construction" of the 2024 World Digital Education Conference in Shanghai.

Parallel Session "Education Digitalisation and Learning Society Construction"