The 1st OUC English Speaking Contest has come to an end. 38 contestants from 27 OUC branches from all over the nation presented an elegant English-language audio-visual feast.
During the contest, a successful doctor with a PhD in medicine explained what he had gained from the OUC. A diligent senior vividly showed that "one is never too old to learn"; a group of disabled students demonstrated their determination and enthusiasm; and an energetic veteran born in the 1990s described his experience studying after being discharged. Their natural pronunciation, witty replies, and engaging story-telling gained applause from the audience and acclaim from the judges.
121 contestants from 27 branches were selected for the contest semi-finals, and 38 of these competed in the finals.
The contest formed part of the OUC’s 40-year tradition of reforming education, expanding the classroom, and giving students chances to put what they have learned to practical use.
In August 1981, the open-university (RTVU) student math competition for municipalities in 10 provinces was co-sponsored by the Beijing, Shanghai and Liaoning RTVUs, and entered by the Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong RTVUs. Professor Hua Luogeng, director of the competition committee, reviewed the test questions and wrote a congratulatory letter. Although heavy rains in the southern part of Liaoning in late July presented difficulties, Mr. Hua’s encouragement kept up the students’ spirits. The selection committee, composed of experts from Peking University and Liaoning University, stated that "this math competition is at the level of the entrance examinations to science & engineering postgraduate degrees. The students showed a relatively clear grasp of the basic concepts of higher mathematics, strong computing ability, and decent reasoning. Their exams were satisfactory, and the quality of this school has to some extent been demonstrated." Shortly thereafter, the school organised competitions in other disciplines, such as physics, and such competitions have become common at open universities.
In this century, the OUC has organised student competitions all over the country, covering the fields of law, accounting, advertising and business management, among others, and skills such as case design and analysis. These competitions have strengthened open-university teaching reforms and training methods, and had a positive effect on the reputation of the OUC.
According to OUC president Yang Zhijian, "The open university is unique in Chinese higher education. It is oriented towards the needs of students, and focuses on enhancing professional competence and promoting openness." The finalists of this English Speaking Contest can convert their results into credits, replacing certain test scores.
During the contest, the OUC also promoted the "8th National Tax Law Competition". As OUC vice president Liu Chen said at the mobilization meeting, "Promoting education through competition helps promote teaching reforms, enhance student skills, and improve the quality of education."
By He Jing and Jin Hongyu, OUC