For the purpose of the standardised operation of non-degree education, the Open University of China (OUC) Department of External Education and Professional Training issued the “Interim Regulations for OUC Non-Degree Education Management” and “Approval and Management Implementation Regulations of OUC Non-Degree Education Projects (Trial).”

According to the requirements of the documents, the OUC Department of External Education and Professional Training organised and held the first project approval meeting for OUC non-degree projects, reviewing projects proposed by the OUC Open University for Older Adults and the School of Vocational Education and Training.

External and internal experts were invited to review the projects, including deputy director of the Continuing Education Department of Peking University, Liu Guangsong; chief director of the National Professional Qualification Network of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Mengfeng; director of the OUC Finance Department, Zhang Xuhong; and director of the OUC Faculty of Education, Li Song. Deputy director Yuan Songhe from the OUC Department of External Education and Professional Training presided over the meeting.

At the meeting, for personnel responsible for projects gave presentations on the background, significance, feasibility, and implementation plan of the respective projects, including “Reasonable Medication for the Elderly”, “Job Competency Training for Extracurricular Education Personnel in Secondary and Primary School Practical Activities”, “Family Education Guidance Teacher Training,” and “Calligraphy Special Training Camp for National Secondary and Primary Students.” The experts conducted in-depth communication and exchanges with the responsible personnel and proposed suggestions for the further optimisation of the projects. Finally, the expert panel did a summary and agreed that two of the projects, “Reasonable Medication for the Elderly”and “Job Competency Training for Extracurricular Education Personnel in Secondary and Primary School Practical Activities,” offered good social and economic benefits and conform to the university’s non-degree education development strategy and could be approved.

This is the first project review meeting held by the Department of External Education and Professional Training since its establishment. It is not only a project review meeting but also a work seminar on the standardised management of non-degree projects. The attending experts spoke highly of the regulations for OUC non-degree projects. They believe that the regulations have a specific orientation and clear process, and are of important guiding significance to the implementation of the business. At the same time, the experts proposed suggestions for elements such as the revision of application forms, review indicators, project management, process management, certificate management, income and expenditure management, and risk control.

By Lv Qian, OUC