On 25 August 2023, the Open University of China (OUC) launched a training programme for calligraphy teachers in Butuo County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, which is one of initiatives taken by the OUC to support rural revitalisation for Butuo County.  

The opening event was attended by key officials including Ashengergui, secretary of Education Working Committee of Butuo County and Bureau of Education, Sports and Science of Butuo County; Yang Chaobin, deputy secretary of Education Working Committee of Butuo County; Zhao Lihong, deputy secretary of branch Party and vice dean of School of Continuing Education of Minzu University of China; Hu Wenhui, deputy secretary of Party Committee of School of Art, Minzu University of China; Feng Li, vice dean of OUC’s Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine (now designated as the Rural Revitalisation College); Jin Yan, secretary of branch Party, vice dean of OUC’s School of Art; as well as several specialty teachers and 49 teachers from 42 primary and secondary schools in Butuo County.

Feng Li provided an overview of OUC’s support and aid to education cause in Butuo County and the related background information of this training programme. In addition, he expressed gratitude to the experts and teachers involved in the training.

Jin Yan outlined three salient features of this programme as follows. Firstly, the expert teachers possess proficiency in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Secondly, the course design is informed by theoretical frameworks while prioritizing hands-on training. Thirdly, the teaching methodology employs a combination of intensive offline training and sustained online learning.

Ashengergui noted that the training programme is a crucial initiative that the OUC undertakes in support of Butuo County, illustrating the OUC's commitment to the cause of rural revitalisation. He expressed hope that participants would capitalize on this valuable opportunity to augment their skills, thereby enabling them to fulfil their roles as educators in specialised education and to carry out educational strategies that foster moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and manual abilities.

The event is collaboratively organised by the Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College), the School of Art atOUC, the Bureau of Education, Sports and Science of Butuo County, and the Teacher Development Centre of Butuo County. Designed as a teacher training initiative, the programme is crafted in response to the specific educational needs of Butuo County. It offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes aesthetic education, political and ideological education integrated into the curriculum, fundamental theories and techniques of calligraphy, as well as practical skills and instructional methods specific to calligraphy. The training is anticipated to yield a significant positive impact on the enhancement of teaching standards in calligraphy and rural aesthetic education.

By OUC