On 12 October 2019, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), together with the Ministry of Education (MOE), held a symposium on the 10th anniversary of the national workers' quality construction programme, as well as an exhibition of the achievements of the Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education.

The purpose of the conference is to serve the overall work of the Party and the state on the "Construction of Industrial Workers in the New Era”; summarise the achievements of the national employee quality construction programme over the past ten years; continue to promote the Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education initiated by the MOE and the ACFTU; promote the balanced development of Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education across all regions; explore a new model of continuing education suitable for industrial workers; and promote close cooperation and mutual coordination between the labour union system and the education administrative department in the process of promoting the "Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education.”

Yan Jinghua, vice chairman and secretary of the Secretariat and member of the Party group of ACFTU, relevant leaders of the MOE’s Department of Vocational and Adult Education, the ACFTU’s Propaganda and Education Department, and the OUC attended the meeting, and relevant personnel from the Federation of Trade Unions and education departments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government attended the meeting.

Yan Jinghua pointed out that the OUC has actively connected with the trade union system. In accordance with the requirements of the education administrative department on the improvement of employees' academic qualifications and skills, it has mobilised the advantages of its school-running system and trained a large number of knowledge and skill-based talents by integrating industries and education, which has made important contributions to the promotion of the Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education.”

Representatives attended the 2019 Graduation Ceremony on behalf of the staff of Guangzhou Experimental College of the OUC. The ceremony was held at the site of the first National Labor Congress, which was of special commemorative significance. More than 1,000 graduate representatives and their families from Guangzhou Wanbao group, Guangzhou Automobile Group, and Kingfa Technology Group attended the ceremony.

Lin Yu, vice president of the OUC, pointed out in an interview after the conference that the online and offline education platform jointly built by the labour union, the education department, and the OUC provides an important learning channel for industrial workers to pursue their studies and realise their dreams. The Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education will make unique and important contributions to national economic development, social stability, and family happiness.

During the conference, the participants visited the exhibition of migrant workers' achievements, achievements enabled by the Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education. A number of provincial trade union representatives gave work reports and some outstanding graduates, including Yan Lina from the Fujian branch of the OUC, shared their stories of pursuing further education and fulfilling their dreams.

Since the launch of the Action Plan of Realising Dreams of Further Education, the OUC system has recruited more than 43,000 employees as students and cultivated nearly 10,000 skilled professionals.

Group photo of Yan Lina, Cai Shoukuan (second from the right), deputy director of the MOE’s Department of Vocational and Adult Education, and Gao Yang (second from the left), head of the Division of Higher Continuing Education

Lin Yu turning the tassel for 2019 on-the-job student representatives

Group photo of on-the-job students, Guangzhou 2019, at the graduation ceremony

By Chen Siming,OUC