Guided by the general development goals of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (AFROC), and relying on the advantages of the OUC's teaching resources and platform, the OUC’s Huaqiao College plays a leading role among open universities in constructing a lifelong educational system and a learning-oriented society.

It aims to promote “Internet Plus Chinese language and cultural education,” and implement degree and non-degree education training and activities for overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese and their families, as well as Chinese learners around the world through a modern, open distance education model that combines both online and offline resources.

The Huaqiao College, which is oriented toward Chinese living overseas, Chinese people and their family members who have returned from overseas, and Chinese learners around the world, was established in Chengdu on 1 April 2017. Headquartered in Chengdu, the Huaqiao College is sponsored by the OUC with support from the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. It is co-organised by the Sichuan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Chengdu Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and its construction was contracted to Chengdu RTVU. The Huaqiao College aims to offer education via the latest online technology, spread Chinese culture through education, and serve society by bringing together different cultures. Its ultimate goal is to spread Chinese voices by presenting different visions of China.

On the afternoon of 25 October 2017, the first college to provide education services for overseas Chinese in Ningbo, Ningbo Huaqiao College, was established. Ningbo Huaqiao College, a branch of the OUC’s Returned Overseas Chinese College in Ningbo, is co-sponsored by Ningbo Radio and Television University (Ningbo RTVU, or Ningbo Community University) and the Ningbo Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (Ningbo FROC). In response to the 19th national committee of the Communist Party of China’s call to "unite Chinese residing abroad and returned overseas Chinese and their family members to work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” and in order to gather together the skills and strengths of overseas Chinese and share and fulfil their common Chinese dream, Ningbo Huaqiao College focuses on the integration of different education service platforms, exploring a multifaceted dialogue and cooperation mechanism and gradually improving its strength and ability by relying on the three-level system and resources of Ningbo RTVU (Ningbo Community College) and Ningbo FROC. As a result, it can provide various forms of education and training to returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, Chinese people residing abroad, and expats in Ningbo.

On 24 November 2018, the Xi'an Branch of the OUC Huaqiao College, jointly founded by Xi'an Radio and Television University (Xi’an RTVU) and the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xi'an municipal government, was established. Based on the Xi’an RTVU’s rich experience of distance education and the advantages of the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xi'an municipal government, the Xi’an branch of the OUC Huaqiao College engages in cross-country distance Chinese language and Chinese culture teaching using the Internet. It vigorously promotes Xi'an culture, especially that of the Han and Tang dynasties, highlights local Xi'an specialties, demonstrates the potential of Xi'an as a city, and promotes the sustainable development of the external communication of Chinese culture.